title: Training leading to repetition failure enhances bench press strength gains in elite junior athletes.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of training leading to repetition failure in the performance of 2 different tests: 6 repetition maximum (6RM) bench press strength and 40-kg bench throw power in elite junior athletes. Subjects were 26 elite junior male basketball players (n = 12; age = 18.6 +/- 0.3 years; height = 202.0 +/- 11.6 cm; mass = 97.0 +/- 12.9 kg; mean +/- SD) and soccer players (n = 14; age = 17.4 +/- 0.5 years; height = 179.0 +/- 7.0 cm; mass = 75.0 +/- 7.1 kg) with a history of greater than 6 months' strength training. Subjects were initially tested twice for 6RM bench press mass and 40-kg Smith machine bench throw power output (in watts) to establish retest reliability. Subjects then undertook bench press training with 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, using equal volume programs (24 repetitions x 80-105% 6RM in 13 minutes 20 seconds). Subjects were assigned to one of two experimental groups designed either to elicit repetition failure with 4 sets of 6 repetitions every 260 seconds (RF(4 x 6)) or allow all repetitions to be completed with 8 sets of 3 repetitions every 113 seconds (NF(8 x 3)). The RF(4 x 6) treatment elicited substantial increases in strength (7.3 +/- 2.4 kg, +9.5%, p < 0.001) and power (40.8 +/- 24.1 W, +10.6%, p < 0.001), while the NF(8 x 3) group elicited 3.6 +/- 3.0 kg (+5.0%, p < 0.005) and 25 +/- 19.0 W increases (+6.8%, p < 0.001). The improvements in the RF(4 x 6) group were greater than those in the repetition rest group for both strength (p < 0.005) and power (p < 0.05). Bench press training that leads to repetition failure induces greater strength gains than nonfailure training in the bench press exercise for elite junior team sport athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia. drinkwater@csu.edu.au
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Drinkwater
authors.forename: Trent W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: Rod P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lindsell
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001132:Arm; D001490:Basketball / Q000193:education / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012916:Soccer / Q000193:education / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000193:education* / Q000502:physiology*; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*