BENCH PRESS AND PUSH UP REPETITIONS TO FAILURE WITH EQUATED LOAD A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Fullerton In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Kinesiology By Taran L. Eckel Thesis Committee Approval: Lee E. Brown, Department of Kinesiology, Chair Andrew J. Galpin, Department of Kinesiology Jared W. Coburn, Department of Kinesiology Spring, 2017 ABSTRACT The bench press and push-up are used for training upper body muscular strength and endurance. Although used interchangeably, differences between relative to body mass load are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the pushup and bench press when performing repetitions to failure with an equated load. 31 recreationally trained subjects (16 men age = 23.00 ± 2.36 years., height = 178.19 ± 9.61 cm, mass = 74.80 ± 13.44 kg; 15 women age = 23.60 ± 2.69 years, height = 160.80 ± 7.06 cm, mass = 56.32 ± 9.55 kg) performed a 1RM bench press and an isometric push-up on a force plate to determine bodyweight load supported in the pushup positions. Days 2 and 3 consisted of performing repetitions to failure for either the bench press or push-up with a load that was equal to the average relative bodyweight force of the pushup positions. A 2 (exercise: bench press, pushup) X 2 (sex: men, women) Mixed Factorial ANOVA demonstrated no interaction, but significant (p < 0.05) main effects for exercise and sex where more repetitions were performed in the pushup (16.96 ± 9.26 reps) than the bench press (8.95 ± 4.58 reps). Also, men performed significantly more repetitions to failure in both exercises (men = 20.21 ± 9.04 reps, women = 5.70 ± 9.34 reps)). For combined sexes, there was a significant (p < 0.05), strong relationship (r = 0.83) between bench press and push-up repetitions to failure. For men, there was a significant (r < 0.05), strong relationship (r = 0.81), while for women; there was a moderate relationship (r = 0.63). The exercises should be differentiated based on the training goal and gender. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... v Chapter 1. INTRODCUTION ................................................................................................ 1 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ...................................................................... 3 Gender Differences on Upper Body Strength ....................................................... 3 The Push Up.......................................................................................................... 4 The Bench Press.................................................................................................... 5 Repetitions to Failure ............................................................................................ 5 Hand Placement of the Push Up and Grip Length of Bench Press ....................... 6 3. METHODS ........................................................................................................... 8 Participants............................................................................................................ 8 Procedures ............................................................................................................. 8 Instruments ..................................................................................................... 8 Day 1: Baseline, Anthropometric Data, Force Plate Data Collection, Bench Press 1 RM Test, and Familiarization ............................................................ 9 Day 2-3: Pushups to Failure........................................................................... 10 Day 2-3: Bench Press to Failure .................................................................... 10 Statistical Analyses ........................................................................................ 11 4. RESULTS ............................................................................................................. 14 5. DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 16 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 20 iii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Main Effects of Gender and Exercise for Repetitions to Failure between the Bench Press and Pushup Exercises ....................................................................... 14 2. Correlations between Bench Press Repetitions to Failure and Push Up Repetitions to Failure by Sex ................................................................................ 15 3. Bench Press and Push Up Variables by Sex ......................................................... 15 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Pushup: Up position .............................................................................................. 12 2. Pushup: Down position ......................................................................................... 12 3. Bench press: Top position..................................................................................... 13 4. Bench press: Bottom position ............................................................................... 13 v 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The bench press and push-up are commonly used for developing upper body strength and power. Although both exercises share similarities in movement parameters and benefits in the development of the upper body, the bench press usually requires expensive equipment. However, the bench press provides a training stimulus at low, moderate, and high intensities, while the load of a traditional pushup is determined by body weight (4, 5). The relationship between movements has been examined in both genders (3); however, differences may arise due to variances in upper body strength. Even relative to bodyweight, women may be at a physiological disadvantage when performing upper body movements, such as the push up (10). Men have been shown to produce both more absolute and relative force in upper body exercises and different movement patterns in the push up (21). Although studies have shown correlations between the two exercises there is a lack of research on gender effects in regards to the correlation between pushup performance and bench press relative to bodyweight (1). Anthropometry allows expression of intensity relative to bodyweight (14). Performing repetitions with lighter loads has shown to be a relative endurance performance attribute that indicates strength relative to bodyweight (19), while heavier loads indicate absolute strength, or the maximum capability of force production. Two popular tests of assessing muscular 2 endurance include the YMCA bench press and pushup tests; however, both tests quantify intensity relative to body weight leading to an uncertainty of the relationship between exercises (15). The purpose of this study was to evaluate to evaluate the relationship between push-ups and bench press when performing repetitions to failure with an equated load .We hypothesize that due to differences in upper body strength between genders; there will be a higher correlation between the push up and bench press in males when compared to women. 3 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Gender Differences on Upper Body Strength Due to the physiological differences between men and women, upper body strength and endurance in men is greater than females. Studies have shown that women have lower force output; however contain faster recovery ability after performing high intensity exercise (24). Mier et al. investigated the effects of push-up method and gender on percentage of the supported bodyweight. The tests consisted of the performance of two sets of static push ups held for five seconds in the up and down position, which were analyzed by two AMTI force plates (21). Results showed maximal load relative to body weight was greater in men for the push up exercise (21). Eurich et al. examined the relative differences between men and women in performance of the pop-up phase of surfing. In order to simulate the pop-up phase, the recreationally trained surfers were told to lie down and place their hands down on an AMTI force plate, in which they simulated the movement by explosively lifting their body from the push-up position to the similar position of being on a surfboard (10). Results showed that men display greater relative force and greater relative power compared to women (10). Due to the physiological differences, women may not be capable of performing certain explosive movements similar to men when relative to bodyweight (10) Women may display a weakness in upper body strength that may cause a large difference in strength relative to bodyweight. 4 Baumgartner et al. looked to develop percentile norms for the push-up test for college students. The subjects performed a revised push up test that consisted of performing repetitions until failure, or could no longer complete a full repetition (3). Over a four year period, 177 men and 274 were tested and showed that at the 60th percentile norm, men performed 26 pushup and women performed 6 pushups (3). The Push Up The pushup exercise is a well-known exercise