Bench Press Range-of-Motion and Velocity-based Repetition Control: Effects on Ballistic Push-up Performance in Males

Kyle S Collins; Adam P Bradley; Bryan K Christensen; Roman W Waldera; Lukus A Klawitter; Liam Ogren; R W Salatto

Bench Press Range-of-Motion and Velocity-based Repetition Control: Effects on Ballistic Push-up Performance in Males

Int J Exerc Sci. 2024 Jan 1;17(1):38-53. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Kyle S Collins¹, Adam P Bradley¹, Bryan K Christensen¹, Roman W Waldera², Lukus A Klawitter³, Liam Ogren¹, R W Salatto⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA.
² School of Health and Consumer Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.
³ School of Health and Human Performance, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, USA.
⁴ Department of Kinesiology, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.

PMID: 38665164
PMCID: PMC11042900

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ballistic push-up (BPU) is responsive to post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) after a bench press conditioning exercise using velocity-based repetition control. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the effects of range of motion (ROM) conditions on subsequent BPU performance. In a randomized crossover design, 18 males performed two conditions (full ROM and self-selected partial ROM) of bench press at 80% of their 1RM until mean concentric velocity dropped 10%. Each participant performed two pre- and six post-test BPUs to assess the PAPE effect. Paired sample t-tests assessed bench press performance measures. Multiple two-way repeated measures ANOVAs assessed differences in flight time, impulse, and peak power for the pre- and post-test BPUs. No significant differences existed between ROM conditions for total repetitions, volume load, or peak velocity. Compared to partial ROM, full ROM showed greater displacement (0.42 ± 0.05 vs. 0.34 ± 0.05 m), work (331.99 ± 67.72 vs. 270.92 ± 61.42 J), and mean velocity (0.46 ± 0.09 vs. 0.44 ± 0.08 m/s). Neither bench press ROM condition enhanced the BPU and were detrimental in some cases. Several time points showed partial ROM (flight time: 2 min post, impulse: 12 min post, peak power: 12 min post) significantly greater than full ROM, possibly indicating less fatigue accumulation. The BPU may require a different stimulus or may not be practical for PAPE effects in college-aged males. Partial ROM can be an alternative that achieves similar peak velocities while requiring less overall work.

Keywords: PAPE; Spoto Press; conditioning activity; linear encoder; velocity loss.