Re: Expert vs Novice Bench Pressers

[Guest guest]

When this was published in 1984 the bench shirt was in its infancy as

well. I'm sure most of the subjects in the study wore NO bench press

shirts. The mechanics of the movement as well as the muscles involved

must be changed dramtically with the very tight versions of boththe

single and multi ply shirts in use today.

I'm sure that it would dramtically affect the placement of the bar

relative to the shoulder as well as the speed of the descent.

Mark Reifkind

San USA

> You may recall my referring before to Dr Tom McLaughlin's book on the

> biomechanics of bench pressing ( " Bench Press More Now " ) -- well,

here is an

> interesting paper that he and a colleague wrote on the biomechanical

> differences between novice and expert bench pressers.

>

> ------------------------

>

> Madsen N, McLaughlin T

>

> Kinematic factors influencing performance and injury risk in the

bench press

> exercise

>

> Med & Science in Sports & Exercise. 16(4):376-81, Aug 1984.

>

> The purpose of this research was to identify kinematic factors that

could be

> relevant to performance and injury risk in the bench press. The

methods used

> included: use of high-speed, 2D cinematographic procedures to record

the

> performances of 36 subjects (19 experts and 17 novices),

determination of the

> kinematic and kinetic differences between the groups, and

identification of a

> rationale describing how those kinematic differences could lead to the

> kinetic differences. Kinematic factors so identified could influence

> performance and injury risk.

>

> In addition to the fact that experts were able to lift 79% more

weight than

> the novices, the pertinent KINETIC DIFFERENCES included the following:

>

> 1. the difference in peak force exerted while lowering the bar was

only 43%;

> 2. the difference in peak force exerted while raising the bar was

only 45%;

> 3. the difference in minimum force exerted while raising the bar was

87%.

>

> There was no significant difference in torque required at the shoulder.

>

> The relevant KINEMATIC DIFFERENCES were:

>

> 1. the expert group maintained a smaller bar speed while lowering

the bar,

> 2. the expert group used a bar path closer to the shoulders; and

> 3. the expert group used a different sequence of bar movements.

>

> The roles of these kinematic factors in the bench press merit further

> investigation.

>

> [it would be interesting to compare above finding No 2 with the Westside

> recommendation to follow a lower trajectory than one that is closer to

> the shoulders. Comments on all the above findings would also be of

great

> interest to many. Mel Siff]

>

> --------------------------

>

> Dr Mel C Siff

> Denver, USA

> Supertraining/