Contrast Tempo of Movement and Its Effect on Power Output and Bar Velocity During Resistance Exercise

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology Vol. 11; p. 629199
• Main Authors: Wilk, Michal, Jarosz, Jakub, Krzysztofik, Michal, Filip-Stachnik, Aleksandra, Bialas, Marcin, Rzeszutko-Belzowska, Agata, Zajac, Adam, Stastny, Petr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 20-01-2021
• Subjects: cadence; duration of repetition; Physiology; resistance exercise; time under tension; velocity of movement; duration of repetition; resistance exercise; velocity of movement; time under tension; cadence
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.629199

In this study, we examined the impact of contrast movement tempo (fast vs. slow) on power output and bar velocity during the bench press exercise. Ten healthy men (age = 26.9 ± 4.1 years; body mass = 90.5 ± 10.3 kg; bench press 1RM = 136.8 ± 27.7 kg) with significant experience in resistance training (9.4 ± 5.6 years) performed the bench press exercise under three conditions: with an explosive tempo of movement in each of three repetitions (E/E/E = explosive, explosive, explosive); with a slow tempo of movement in the first repetition and an explosive tempo in the next two repetitions (S/E/E = slow, explosive, explosive); and with a slow tempo of movement in the first two repetitions and an explosive tempo in the last repetition (S/S/E = slow, slow, explosive). The slow repetitions were performed with a 5/0/5/0 (eccentric/isometric/concentric/isometric) movement tempo, while the explosive repetitions were performed with an X/0/X/0 (X- maximal speed of movement) movement tempo. During each experimental session, the participants performed one set of three repetitions at 60%1RM. The two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant interaction effect for peak power output (PP;
= 0.03;
= 0.26) and for peak bar velocity (PV;
= 0.04;
= 0.24). Futhermore there was a statistically significant main effect of condition for PP (
= 0.04;
= 0.30) and PV (
= 0.02;
= 0.35). The
analysis for interaction revealed that PP was significantly higher in the 2nd and 3rd repetition for E/E/E compared with the S/S/E (
< 0.01 for both) and significantly higher in the 2nd repetition for the S/E/E compared with S/S/E (
< 0.01). The
analysis for interaction revealed that PV was significantly higher in the 2nd and 3rd repetition for E/E/E compared with the S/S/E (
< 0.01 for both), and significantly higher in the 2nd repetition for the S/E/E compared with the S/S/E (
< 0.01). The
analysis for main effect of condition revealed that PP and PV was significantly higher for the E/E/E compared to the S/S/E (
= 0.04;
= 0.02; respectively). The main finding of this study was that different distribution of movement tempo during a set has a significant impact on power output and bar velocity in the bench press exercise at 60%1RM. However, the use of one slow repetition at the beginning of a set does not decrease the level of power output in the third repetition of that set.