Relationship of Pectoralis Major Muscle Size With Bench Press and Bench Throw Performances

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 1778 - 1782
• Main Authors: Akagi, Ryota, Tohdoh, Yukihiro, Hirayama, Kuniaki, Kobayashi, Yuji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright by the National Strength & Conditioning Association 01-06-2014; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Athletes; Correlation analysis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscular system; Pectoralis Muscles - anatomy & histology; Pectoralis Muscles - physiology; Sports training; Universities; Weight; Weight Lifting - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000306

ABSTRACTAkagi, R, Tohdoh, Y, Hirayama, K, and Kobayashi, Y. Relationship of pectoralis major muscle size with bench press and bench throw performances. J Strength Cond Res 28(6)1778–1782, 2014—This study examined the relationship of muscle size indices of the pectoralis major muscle with bench press and bench throw performances in 18 male collegiate athletes. The maximal cross-sectional area (MCSAMAx) and volume (MV) of the pectoralis major muscle were determined by magnetic resonance imaging. First, subjects were tested for their one repetition maximum bench press strength (1RMBP) using a Smith machine. At a later date, subjects performed bench throws using the Smith machine with several different loads ranging from 30.0 kg to 90% of 1RMBP. Barbell positions were measured by a linear position transducer, and bench throw power was calculated using a dynamic equation. Three trials were performed for each load. In all the trials, the maximal peak power was adopted as bench throw peak power (PPBT). The 1RMBP was significantly correlated with MCSAMAx. Similarly, the correlation coefficient between MV and PPBT was significant. In contrast to the y-intercept of the MV-PPBT regression line, that of the MCSAMAx-1RMBP regression line was not significantly different from 0. These results suggested that, although the dependence on pectoralis major muscle size is slightly different between bench press strength and bench throw power, the pectoralis major muscle size has a significant impact on bench press and throw performances. Greater muscle size leads to heavier body weight, which can be a negative factor in some sports. We therefore recommend that athletes and their coaches develop training programs for improving sports performance by balancing the advantage of increased muscle size and the potential disadvantage of increased body weight.