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COMPARISON OF BENCH PRESS PEAK FORCE AT VARIOUS INTENSITIES BETWEEN THE TSUNAMI BARBELL AND AN OLYMPIC STANDARD BARBELL

Abstract

Alexander R Bryce1, Andrew C Fry1, Michael T. Lane2, Nicholas Giancana1, Riley Spencer1, Elizabeth Scherer1. 1University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; 2Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY; e-mail: a619b842@ku.edu

Non-standard resistance training equipment (medicine balls, chains, resistance bands, etc.) have been used as methods of strength and power development for decades. One such new product, the Tsunami Barbell, claims to increase muscle activation and force production due to its ability to flex and bend during the lift. PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a difference in peak force production when performing a bench press with a flexible barbell versus an Olympic barbell. METHODS: 18 healthy male subjects volunteered to perform 5 sets of 1 repetition as fast and controlled as possible for both eccentric and concentric phases at loads of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% of their self-reported 1 RMs on the bench press. The bar was not allowed to contact the chest for any repetition. Testing order (Tsunami vs. Olympic bar) was randomized by subject on different testing days. Force was measured using a ceiling-mounted UniMeasure position transducer attached next to the hand placement on the bar, with the bench placed on a uni-axial RoughDeck force plate. Data were collected via a BioPac data acquisition system. A 2x5 (bar x intensity) RMANOVA was performed to test for significant interactions (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: No main effect was found for bar type (p = 0.803). No interaction was found between bar type and intensity (p = .383). A main effect was found for intensity, indicating that peak force production at 40 and 50% 1RM was significantly different from all other loads. 60% 1RM was significantly different from other loads except for 70% 1RM (2321 ± 27 N vs. 2363 ± 80 N, p = 0.138). 70% 1RM was significantly different from all loads except for 60% and 80% 1RM (2363 ± 80 N vs. 2388 ± 79 N, p = 0.197). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there was no significant difference in peak force production between bars. The Tsunami Bar does not seem to be more effective at eliciting greater peak force production at specific loads as used in the present study. Further examination is needed to compare other characteristics of the resulting force-time curves.

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