Reliability of Barbell Velocities Recorded from the GymAware Device during Squat and Bench Press Exercises

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the reliability of velocities recorded with the GymAware linear position transducer (LTP) during the squat and bench press exercises. METHODS: Thirteen resistance-trained men (age: 21.7±0.4 years; height 1.74±0.07 m; mass: 82.9±9.5 kg; 1-repetition maximum (1RM) back squat: 149.9±20.7 kg; bench 1RM: 114.8±18.5 kg.) performed three trials of squat and bench press using the following percentages of 1RM: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80%. The order of the loads was counterbalanced across the participants. The mean vertical velocity of the barbell during the concentric phase of each repetition was recorded using a 3-D motion analysis system (Vicon; 200 Hz) and the GymAware LTP. Reliability of the GymAware was determined using intraclass correlations (ICC) and coefficients of variance (CV%). RESULTS: The GymAware showed high intersession reliability for both exercises with ICCs ranging from good to excellent (squat: 0.71-0.91; bench press: 0.83-0.91). CV% showed precision in the recorded velocities during both exercises (squat: 3.6%-5.8%; bench press: 4.9%-7.4%). CONCLUSION: The GymAware LTP shows high intersession reliability for recorded velocities during the squat and bench press exercises.