A comparison of the standard barbell bench press and novel BandBell bench press

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics and whole body sEMG of the barbell with the Bandbell bench press. Twelve subjects with at least five years of resistance training experience volunteered to take part in the study (height, 190 ± 7 cm; bodyweight, 107 ± 16kg). All subjects were familiar with the bench press exercise and had trained it consistently during the four weeks prior to the study at approximately 75% 1RM. Subjects’ 10RM bench press was tested (115kg ± 21kg) followed by a 4-7 day rest period. A within-subjects design was used and during experimental testing subjects completed eight bench press trials of increasing intensity, and with a variety of loading conditions. Distance travelled of the bar in the sagittal and transverse plane was measured to assess for instability and to examine any resulting effect of the instability sEMG of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, external oblique, latisimus dorsii, vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius were recorded. It was found that the distance travelled in the sagittal and transverse planes and mean activation of the biceps brachii and external oblique was significantly greater with the Bandbell at all intensities. Distance travelled in the sagittal and transverse planes and mean activation of the biceps brachii were significantly greater for the Bandbell condition. Therefore, this study shows that the Bandbell is successful at inducing instability during the bench press and produces greater mean activation in stabilising musculature.