Effects of different ischemic pressures on bar velocity during the bench press exercise: A randomized crossover trial

• Published in: Biology of sport Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 89 - 96
• Main Authors: Gawel, Dawid, Jarosz, Jakub, Trybulski, Robert, Krzysztofik, Michal, Makar, Piotr, Vieira, João Guilherme, Trybek, Grzegorz, Wilk, Michal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland Institute of Sport in Warsaw 01-01-2024; Termedia Publishing House
• Subjects: athletic performance; blood flow restriction therapy; occlusion; Original Paper; power output; resistance training; Occlusion; Blood flow restriction therapy; Power output; Athletic performance; Resistance training
• ISSN: 0860-021X; 2083-1862
• DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2024.133004

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different ischemic pressures applied during rest intervals on bar velocity during the bench press exercise. 10 resistance-trained males (age = 23.2 ± 2.7 years; body mass = 83.9 ± 9 kg; body height = 181 ± 5.2 cm; bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) = 125 ± 16.4 kg; training experience = 5.4 ± 3.4 years) participated in the study. During 4 experimental sessions, following a randomized crossover design, the subjects performed 5 sets of 3 repetitions of the bench press exercise with a load of 60% 1RM under conditions: with ischemia (50% or 80% of arterial occlusion pressure), with SHAM ischemia (20 mmHg) and without ischemia (control condition). For the ischemic conditions cuffs were applied before each set for 6.5 min and released 30 s before the start of the set as reperfusion (6.5 min ischemia + 0.5 min reperfusion). In the control condition, ischemia was not applied. The two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed no significant condition × set interaction for mean bar velocity (MV;
= 0.17) and peak bar velocity (PV;
= 0.66). There was also no main effect of condition for MV (
= 0.58) and PV (
= 0.61). The results indicate that ischemic or SHAM treatment (6.5 minutes ischemia or SHAM + 30 s reperfusion) does not affect mean and peak bar velocity during the bench press exercise regardless of the applied pressure.