Static stretching and performance in multiple sets in the bench press exercise.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute effect of static stretching on the performance of multiple sets in the bench press (BP) exercise. Fifteen men (26.2 ± 0.7 years, 72.4 ± 1.3 kg, 1.78 ± 0.1 m, 22.8 ± 0.3 kg·m) performed 4 sets of the BP exercise at 80% of 1 repetition maximum until concentric failure, both in the stretching condition (SC) and control condition (CC). The rate of force decline between the first and the fourth set was used as fatigue index. A randomized, counterbalanced, crossover design was performed with 48 hours between each session. Two static stretching exercises (pectoral and triceps brachii muscles) were performed in a single set before BP in SC, whereas in CC, subjects remained at rest for 150 seconds. For each stretching exercise, the muscle was held at the maximal stretched position for 30 seconds. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was identified for total repetitions performed in 4 sets (SC, 21.3 ± 0.7% vs. CC, 20.5 ± 0.7%) and in the fatigue index (SC, 75.5 ± 1.3% vs. CC, 73.2 ± 1.9%). The results suggest that the performance of multiple sets in the BP exercise does not seem to be influenced by previous static stretching.
Metabolism, Nutrition, and Exercise Laboratory, Physical Education and Sport Center, Londrina State University, Paraná, Brazil.
Alex S
AS
Ribeiro
Marcelo
M
Romanzini
Douglas F
DF
Dias
David
D
Ohara
Danilo R P
DR
da Silva
Abdallah
A
Achour
Ademar
A
Avelar
Edilson S
ES
Cyrino
D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*