EFFECTS OF LOAD ON PEAK POWER OUTPUT FATIGUE DURING THE BENCH THROW

The ability to create power is an important variable for athletic success. No study to date has compared peak power output (PPO) fatigue across multiple sets and with different loads with the bench throw. This study aimed to begin the process of establishing empirical upper-body power training guidelines for moderately strong athletes by determining how load (30, 45, and 60% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) affects PPO (Watts) dropoff during 3 sets of 10 repetitions of the bench throw. Ten resistance-trained male volunteers ([mean +/- SD]: age 20.58 +/- 1.36 years, height 176.05 +/- 9.09 cm, body mass 78.65 +/- 9.93 kg, bench press 1RM 99.79 +/- 18.52 kg) performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of the bench throw with one of the 3 loads during 3 weekly sessions. A Humac 360 device collected concentric phase PPO data during each repetition. The data were analyzed using one-way (treatment) and 2-way (treatment x time) repeated-measures analysis of variance. A significant decrease in PPO was observed during repetitions 5-7 at 30%, 3-4 at 45%, and 2-3 at 60% 1RM. Based on the results of this study, coaches who want to maximize power should potentially keep sets of upper-body plyometrics within these repetition ranges. The authors recommend that moderately strong athletes perform the bench throw on a Smith machine at 45% or 60% 1RM to produce high PPO over multiple sets.