A COMPARISON OF BENCH PRESS MAXIMUM AND REGIONAL BONE DENSITY IN COLLEGE AGE WOMEN

Abstract

It has been suggested that resistance training plays an important role in developing and maintaining bone density in young women, however research on this topic is sparse. The bench press maximum is considered to be the best test of upper body strength. PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between bench press maximum and regional bone density of college age women. METHODS: Fourteen female subjects (Age: 19–28 yrs.; Ht: 162.4 ± 7.3 cm; Wt: 55.8 ± 5.1 kg) provided informed consent before completing medical history and physical activity readiness questionnaires (PAR-Q). One-repetition maximum (1-RM) on the bench press was measured following the procedures of Mayhew and Epply (1995). Bone density of the femoral neck (FN) and L1-L4 lumbar spine (LS) was assessed using dual photon x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR-4550). Relationship was assessed using Pearson-product moment correlation coefficients (r). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that 1-RM on the bench press has a moderate, positive correlation with lumbar spine and femoral neck bone density.