THE VALIDITY OF VELOCITY MEASUREMENT DURING UPPER-BODY RESISTANCE EXERCISES UNDER VARIABLE LOADS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the velocity of the barbell with the criterion of the velocity of the center of gravity during the explosive bench press lift with different loads. Fifteen highly trained soccer players participated in this study. Three-dimensional upper extremities kinematic data during the bench press were collected. Participants lifted loads of 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90% of one repetition maximum (1RM) with maximal velocity. All upper extremity segments and barbell were modeled as frustra of cones while the barbell was modeled as a cylinder. One way repeated ANOVA revealed that peak barbell velocity was significantly higher with 10, 30 and 50% and the mean barbell velocity was significantly higher with 10 and 30% of 1RM. Additionally, kinematic methods based on the barbell velocity measurement overestimate the velocity of the center of mass.