Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

5-5-2024

Disciplines

Exercise Science

Advisor

Donald Fischer

Abstract

PURPOSE: Findings from previous research indicate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the prime mover muscles in completing a bench press is not significantly different between the pre-sticking, sticking, and post-sticking phases. However, previous research only examined EMG activity during a barbell bench press. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in muscle activation during the pre-sticking, sticking, and post-sticking phases of a six-repetition maximum (6RM) dumbbell bench press. METHODS: Twenty-three (n = 23) resistance-trained males (age, 20.8 ± 1.2 yr; height, 179.8 ± 5.3 cm; body mass, 87.8 ± 15.5 kg; BP 6RM, 87.8 ± 13.0 lb) performed a 6RM dumbbell bench press. Wrist acceleration was used to determine the pre-sticking, sticking, and post-sticking phases. EMG data from the dominant arm pectoralis major and triceps brachii muscles during last successful repetition in the 6RM test were analyzed to compare EMG activity during each of the three phases. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in the triceps brachii EMG activity between the three phases (p = 0.02). A post-hoc pairwise comparison test revealed the EMG activity during the post-sticking phase (0.477 ± 0.05) was significantly lower than the EMG activity during the pre-sticking (0.564 ± 0.055) and sticking phase (0.538 ± 0.061). EMG activity during the pre-sticking and sticking phases were not found to be significantly different from each other. A repeated measures ANOVA of the pectoralis major EMG activity showed no significant difference in EMG between the three phases. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous research conducted with barbell bench press, there were significant differences in EMG activity of the triceps brachii between the pre-sticking, sticking, and post-sticking phases during a 6RM dumbbell bench press. Consistent with previous research, however, was a lack of difference in EMG activity of the pectoralis major between the phases while using dumbbells.

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