10/25/2018 A comparison of muscle activity and 1-RM strength of three chest-press exercises with different stability requirements: Journal

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A comparison of muscle activity and 1-RM

strength of three chest-press exercises
with different stability requirements
Atle H. Saeterbakken , Roland van den Tillaar & Marius S. Fimland
Pages 533-538 | Accepted 26 Nov 2010, Published online: 10 Jan 2011

 Download citation  https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.543916

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare one-repetition maximum (1-RM) and muscle
activity in three chest-press exercises with di erent stability requirements (Smith
machine, barbell, and dumbbells). Twelve healthy, resistance-trained males (age
22.7 ± 1.7 years, body mass 78.6 ± 7.6 kg, stature 1.80 ± 0.06 m) were tested for 1-RM
of the three chest-press exercises in counterbalanced order with 3–5 days of rest
between the exercises. One-repetition maximum and electromyographic activity of the
pectoralis major, deltoid anterior, biceps, and triceps brachii were recorded in the

exercises. The dumbbell load was 14% less than that for the Smith machine (P ≤ 0.001,
e ect size [ES] = 1.05) and 17% less than that for the barbell (P ≤ 0.001, ES = 1.11). The
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10/25/2018 A comparison of muscle activity and 1-RM strength of three chest-press exercises with different stability requirements: Journal of Sports…
e ect s e [ S] .05) a d % ess t a t at o t e ba be ( 0.00 , S . ). e
barbell load
 Full was ∼3%
Article higher
 Figures than 
& data that for the Smith
References machine
 Citations (P = 0.016, ES = 0.18).
 Metrics


Electrical activity in the pectoralis major and anterior deltoid did not di er during the
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lifts. Electrical activity in the biceps brachii increased with stability requirements (i.e.
Smith machine <barbell <dumbbells; P ≤ 0.005; ES = 0.57, 1.46, and 2.00, respectively),
while triceps brachii activity was reduced using dumbbells versus barbell (P = 0.007,
ES = 0.73) and dumbbells versus Smith machine (P = 0.003, ES = 0.62). In conclusion,
high stability requirements in the chest press (dumbbells) result in similar (pectoralis
major and anterior deltoid), lower (triceps brachii) or higher (biceps brachii) muscle
activity. These ndings have implications for athletic training and rehabilitation.

Keywords: Electromyography, resistance exercise, free weights, bench press, one-repetition maximum

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