5rm Bench Press Increases Medicine Ball Put Distance In Trained Males And Females

The ability to hyper-stimulate the nervous system theoretically leading to one's ability to exert increased muscular force and power is known as a Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP) effect. Previous studies have demonstrated PAP in lower body movements, however few studies have investigated and/or shown a PAP effect on upper body musculature. PURPOSE: To investigate if resistance trained males and females performing a 5 repetition maximum (RM) bench press (BP) would increase medicine ball put distance. METHODS: Trained males (n=8, age=23.1+3.1 yrs, mass=91.4+20.3 kg, ht=188.3+5.7 cm, 1RM BP=107.2+15.1 kg) and females (n=7, age=24.6+3.8 yrs, mass=67.7+10.4 kg, ht=169.1+6.5 cm, 1RM BP=50.1+12.2 kg) participated. Day 1: Medicine ball put distance was determined having subjects perform three trials of a two handed seated medicine ball put from the chest. Males used a 4 kg ball and females used a 2 kg ball. The farthest distance (meters) was recorded. Trajectory was controlled by hanging a 1 meter (diameter) ring 1 meter in front of the subject 2 meters high. 1RM BP was determined and then a 5RM BP was extrapolated using published tables. Day 2: Subjects performed a 5RM BP, sat and rested for 3 minutes then performed a medicine ball put, waited 1 minute, performed another medicine ball put, and waited one more minute, performing their final medicine ball put at 5 minutes post 5RM BP. RESULTS: Data was analyzed using a 2 (gender) X 4 (med ball put) mixed ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at the p < 0.05 level. Post hoc comparisons were performed using paired sample t-tests. There was a significant main effect for medicine ball put order (F[3,39] = 8.33, p < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in medicine ball put distance compared with pre throws at both 4 minutes (M = 34.0 cm) and 5 minutes (M = 45.3 cm) post 5 RM BP in both males and females. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a 5RM BP is sufficient to elicit a Post-Activation Potentiation effect as measured by medicine ball put distance in trained males and females. These results are similar to effects shown in lower body PAP studies.