Abstract
Background: This study compared the muscle activity and six repetition maximum (6-RM) loads in bench press with narrow, medium, and wide grip widths with sub-group comparisons of resistance-trained (RT) and novice-trained (NT) men. Methods: After two familiarization sessions, twenty-eight subjects lifted their 6-RM loads with the different grip widths with measurement of electromyographic activity. Results: Biceps brachii activity increased with increasing grip width, whereas wide grip displayed lower triceps brachii activation than medium and narrow. In the anterior deltoid, greater activity was observed using a medium compared to narrow grip. Similar muscle activities were observed between the grip widths for the other muscles. For the RT group, greater biceps brachii activity with increasing grip width was observed, but only greater activity was observed in the NT group between narrow and wide. Comparing wide and medium grip width, the RT group showed lower triceps activation using a wide grip, whereas the NT group showed lower anterior deltoid activation using a narrow compared to medium grip. Both groups demonstrated lower 6-RM loads using a narrow grip compared to the other grips. Conclusion: Grip widths affect both 6-RM loads and triceps brachii, biceps brachii, and anterior deltoid activity especially between wide and narrow grip widths.
Highlights
The bench press exercise is perhaps the most frequently used exercise to gain strength, hypertrophy, and power in the upper body among recreational, resistance-trained, and power lifters
For the 6-RM loads, differences were observed for the RT group (F = 32.170, p < 0.001)
For the total lifting total time, no differences were observed between grip widths for the RT group (F = 3.388, p = 0.051) or NT group (F = 1.205, p = 0.311)
Summary
The bench press exercise is perhaps the most frequently used exercise to gain strength, hypertrophy, and power in the upper body among recreational, resistance-trained, and power lifters. To the authors’ best knowledge, few studies have examined the differences in bench press performance (e.g., muscle strength and muscle activation) between populations with different resistance training experience. Several studies have examined the bench press exercise. Different chestpress exercises have been examined with regard to muscle strength, electromyographic activity (EMG) and kinematics [2,3], bench angles [4,5], biomechanics [6,7,8,9], unstable surfaces [10,11], successful and unsuccessful attempts [6], and different muscle actions (e.g., isometric, concentric only, and counter movement) [12,13]. The main focus has been the primary muscle groups (pectoralis major, deltoid anterior, and triceps brachii) in addition to the synergist and antagonist in the exercise [1,9,14,15]
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