Changes in Muscle Pattern Activity During the Asymmetric Flat Bench Press (Offset Training)

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2020 Jun 5

PMID 32492829

Citations 8

Authors

Jakub Jarosz

Artur Golas

Michal Krzysztofik

Patryk Matykiewicz

Katarzyna Stronska

Adam Zajac

Adam Maszczyk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the muscle activity between the symmetric and selected asymmetric loads (2.5%; 5% and 7.5% differences in load position between sides of the bar) during the flat bench press (BP) exercise at 70%1RM. The study included 10 resistance-trained males (25.3 ± 2.3 years; 82.9 ± 6.9 kg; 177.8 ± 4.5 cm; 1RM BP: 104.5 ± 8.6 kg; experience: 5.6 ± 1.5 years).

Methods: To assess the differences in muscle activity between both sides of the body and load placement, the participants performed several attempts of the BP with symmetric and asymmetric load at 70%1RM in a random order (symmetric; 2.5%; 5% and 7.5% differences in load position between sides of the bar). Peak muscle activity of dominant and non-dominant body-side was recorded for the pectoralis major (PM), anterior deltoid (AD), and the long head of the triceps brachii (TB).

Results: A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a statistically significant main interaction between side and load ( < 0.01) for AD, PM and TB muscles.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that asymmetrically loaded BP leads to significantly higher muscle activity on the loaded side of the body. The offset training method during bilateral resistance exercise may be an effective and simple approach for reductions in muscle imbalances and improvement in bilateral exercise performance.

Citing Articles

Effects of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation on Selective Activation of Shoulder Girdle Muscles During the Barbell Bench Press Exercise.

Stronska-Garbien K, Terbalyan A, Gepfert M, Roczniok R, Drozd M, Golas A J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2024; 9(4).

PMID: 39584871 PMC: 11587154. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9040218.

Assessment of asymmetry at different intensities between conventional and paralympic powerlifting athletes.

Souza R, Aidar F, Villar R, Greco G, Dos Santos L, Poli L Heliyon. 2023; 9(5):e16211.

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How Does Instability Affect Bench Press Performance? Acute Effect Analysis with Different Loads in Trained and Untrained Populations.

Marquina M, Lorenzo-Calvo J, Garcia-Sanchez C, de la Rubia A, Rivilla-Garcia J, Ferro-Sanchez A Sports (Basel). 2023; 11(3).

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A Comparison of Electromyographic Inter-Limb Asymmetry During a Standard Versus a Sling Shot Assisted Bench Press Exercise.

Wojdala G, Trybulski R, Bichowska M, Krzysztofik M J Hum Kinet. 2022; 83:223-234.

PMID: 36157940 PMC: 9465753. DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0084.

The Effect of Grip Width on Muscle Strength and Electromyographic Activity in Bench Press among Novice- and Resistance-Trained Men.

Saeterbakken A, Stien N, Pedersen H, Solstad T, Cumming K, Andersen V Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(12).

PMID: 34198674 PMC: 8296276. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126444.

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