Effect of Velocity Loss on Strength Performance in Bench Press Using a Weight Stack Machine

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effects of three different velocity loss thresholds (10%: VL10, 30%: VL30 and 50%: VL50) on maximal strength and velocity at different intensities during bench press using a weight stack machine (WSM-BP). Forty-five men were randomly assigned to three groups: VL10 (n=15), VL30 (n=15) and VL50 (n=15), which followed a 5-week (15 sessions) velocity-based WSM-BP program. Assessments performed Pre- and Post-training included: a) estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM) in WSM-BP; b) average velocity attained against all absolute loads common to Pre- and Post-training tests in WSM-BP; c) average velocity attained against all absolute loads that were lifted equal to or faster than 0.8 m·s−1 at Pre-training (light loads); and d) average velocity attained against all absolute loads that were lifted slower than 0.8 m·s−1 at Pre-training (heavy loads). All groups showed significant improvements in 1RM, velocity against all loads, and velocity against heavy loads (P<0.001–0.01). However, only the VL10 group showed significant enhancements in velocity against light loads (P=0.05). Therefore, the VL10 group showed a higher training efficiency compared to VL30 and VL50 interventions, since it obtained similar benefits by performing fewer repetitions.

Key words

resistance training - velocity-based training - degree of effort - repetition velocity - fatigue - isoinertial assessment

Publication History

Received: 10 February 2020

Accepted: 01 May 2020

Article published online:
15 July 2020

• References

• 1 Suchomel TJ, Nimphius S, Stone MH. The importance of muscular strength in athletic performance. Sports Med 2016; 46: 1419-1449
• 2 Androulakis-Korakakis P, Fisher JP, Steele J. The minimum effective training dose required to increase 1RM strength in resistance-trained men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2020; 50: 751-765
• 3 Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Anderson JM. et al. Resistance exercise biology: manipulation of resistance exercise programme variables determines the responses of cellular and molecular signalling pathways. Sports Med 2008; 38: 527-540
• 4 González-Badillo JJ, Sánchez-Medina L. Movement velocity as a measure of loading intensity in resistance training. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 347-352
• 5 Sánchez-Medina L, González-Badillo JJ, Pérez CE. et al. Velocity- and power-load relationships of the bench pull vs. bench press exercises. Int J Sports Med 2014; 35: 209-216
• 6 Sánchez-Moreno M, Rodríguez-Rosell D, Pareja-Blanco F. et al. Movement velocity as indicator of relative intensity and level of effort attained during the set in pull-up exercise. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2017; 12: 1378-1384
• 7 Jidovtseff B, Harris NK, Crielaard JM. et al. Using the load-velocity relationship for 1RM prediction. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 267-270
• 8 Bird SP, Tarpenning KM, Marino FE. Designing resistance training programmes to enhance muscular fitness: a review of the acute programme variables. Sports Med 2005; 35: 841-851
• 9 Tan B. Manipulating resistance training program variables to optimize maximum strength in men: a review. J Strength Cond Res 1999; 13: 289-304
• 10 Hass CJ, Feigenbaum MS, Franklin BA. Prescription of resistance training for healthy populations. Sports Med 2001; 31: 953-964
• 11 Pareja-Blanco F, Sánchez-Medina L, Suárez-Arrones L. et al. Effects of velocity loss during resistance training on performance in professional soccer players. Int J Sports PhysiolPerform 2017; 12: 512-519
• 12 Pareja-Blanco F, Rodríguez-Rosell D, Sánchez-Medina L. et al. Effects of velocity loss during resistance training on athletic performance, strength gains and muscle adaptations. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2017; 27: 724-735
• 13 Sánchez-Medina L, González-Badillo JJ. Velocity loss as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue during resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: 1725-1734
• 14 González-Badillo JJ, Yanez-García JM, Mora-Custodio R. et al. Velocity loss as a variable for monitoring resistance exercise. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 217-225
• 15 Rodríguez-Rosell D, Yanez-García JM, Sánchez-Medina L. et al. Relationship between velocity loss and repetitions in reserve in the bench press and back squat exercises. J Strength Cond Res 2019; DOI: [Epub Ahead of Print]10.1519/JSC.0000000000002881.
• 16 Pareja-Blanco F, Alcazar J, Sánchez-Valdepenas J. et al. Velocity loss as a critical variable determining the adaptations to strength training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2020; DOI: [Epub Ahead of Print] 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002295.
• 17 Pareja-Blanco F, Villalba-Fernández A, Cornejo-Daza PJ. et al. Time course of recovery following resistance exercise with different loading magnitudes and velocity loss in the set. Sports (Basel) 2019; 7: 59
• 18 Baechle TR, Earle RW. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. 3rd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2008
• 19 Harriss DJ, MacSween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
• 20 Pallarés JG, Sánchez-Medina L, Pérez CE. et al. Imposing a pause between the eccentric and concentric phases increases the reliability of isoinertial strength assessments. J Sports Sci 2014; 32: 1165-1175
• 21 González-Badillo JJ, Rodríguez-Rosell D, Sánchez-Medina L. et al. Maximal intended velocity training induces greater gains in bench press performance than deliberately slower half-velocity training. Eur J Sport Sci 2014; 14: 772-781
• 22 Sánchez-Medina L, Pérez CE, González-Badillo JJ. Importance of the propulsive phase in strength assessment. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 123-129
• 23 Rodiles-Guerrero L, Pareja-Blanco F, León-Prados J. Comparison of load-velocity relationships in two bench press variations: weight stack machine vs smith machine. Sports Biomech 2020; [Epub Ahead of print] DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2020.1735499.
• 24 Hedges LV, Olkin I. Statistical Methods for Meta-analysis. San Diego: Academic Press; 1985
• 25 Hopkins WG. Spreadsheets for analysis of controlled trials, with adjustment for a subject characteristic. Sportscience 2006; 10: 46-50
• 26 Davies TB, Kuang K, Orr R. et al. Effect of movement velocity during resistance training on dynamic muscular strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2017; 47: 1603-1617
• 27 Sampson JA, Groeller H. Is repetition failure critical for the development of muscle hypertrophy and strength?. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2016; 26: 375-383
• 28 González-Badillo JJ, Izquierdo M, Gorostiaga EM. Moderate volume of high relative training intensity produces greater strength gains compared with low and high volumes in competitive weightlifters. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 73-81
• 29 González-Badillo JJ, Gorostiaga EM, Arellano R. et al. Moderate resistance training volume produces more favorable strength gains than high or low volumes during a short-term training cycle. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 689-697
• 30 Morán-Navarro R, Pérez CE, Mora-Rodríguez R. et al. Time course of recovery following resistance training leading or not to failure. Eur J Appl Physiol 2017; 117: 2387-2399
• 31 Gorostiaga EM, Navarro-Amézqueta I, Calbet JA. et al. Energy metabolism during repeated sets of leg press exercise leading to failure or not. PLoS One 2012; 7: e40621
• 32 Andersen LL, Andersen JL, Zebis MK. et al. Early and late rate of force development: differential adaptive responses to resistance training?. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2010; 20: e162-169
• 33 Rodríguez-Rosell D, Pareja-Blanco F, Aagaard P. et al. Physiological and methodological aspects of rate of force development assessment in human skeletal muscle. Clin Physiol Func Imaging 2018; 38: 743-762
• 34 Draganidis D, Chatzinikolaou A, Jamurtas AZ. et al. The time-frame of acute resistance exercise effects on football skill performance: the impact of exercise intensity. J Sports Sci 2013; 31: 714-722