Postactivation Performance Enhancement of Concentric Bench Press Throw After Eccentric-Only Conditioning Exercise

Krzysztofik, M, Wilk, M, Lockie, RG, Golas, A, Zajac, A, and Bogdanis, GC. Postactivation performance enhancement of concentric bench press throw after eccentric-only conditioning exercise. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2077-2081, 2022-This study examined changes in power output and bar velocity in the concentric-only bench press throw (CON ONLY ) after sets of eccentric-only bench press exercises (ECC ONLY ) at 2 supramaximal loads. Thirteen strength-trained men participated in this study (age = 25.7 ± 1.9 years, body mass = 94.8 ± 8 kg, 1 repetition maximum [1RM] = 147 ± 14.2 kg, and strength training experience = 6.5 ± 2.2 years). The subjects performed 2 conditioning sets of the bench press exercise of 2 repetitions each, with a 5-minute rest interval between sets, using the ECC ONLY mode against 110% or 130% of concentric 1RM load. The 1 repetition of the CON ONLY bench press throw with a load of 30% 1RM was performed before and 5 minutes after the conditioning activity (CA) to assess changes in peak power (PP) and peak velocity (PV). The differences between the analyzed variables before and after the CA were determined using a 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance. There was an increase of PP by 10.5 ± 6.0% (effect size [ES] = 0.34) and 9.9 ± 8.1% (ES = 0.33) for the 110 and 130% of concentric 1RM conditions, respectively, with no difference between the 2 conditions ( p < 0.01 main effect time, no interaction). Similarly, PV increased by 5.9 ± 5.5% (ES = 0.40) and 6.1 ± 6.1% (ES = 0.43) for the 110 and 130% of concentric 1RM conditions, respectively, with no difference between the 2 conditions ( p < 0.01 main effect time, no interaction). Activation with an ECC ONLY contraction and loads exceeding 1RM are effective at improving power output and bar velocity during the CON ONLY bench press throw.