AUTHOR=Wilk Michal , Jarosz Jakub , Krzysztofik Michal , Filip-Stachnik Aleksandra , Bialas Marcin , Rzeszutko-Belzowska Agata , Zajac Adam , Stastny Petr 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.629199

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.629199

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>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; <italic>p</italic> = 0.03; <italic>η</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.26) and for peak bar velocity (PV; <italic>p</italic> = 0.04; <italic>η</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.24). Futhermore there was a statistically significant main effect of condition for PP (<italic>p</italic> = 0.04; <italic>η</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.30) and PV (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02; <italic>η</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0.35). The <italic>post hoc</italic> 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 (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01 for both) and significantly higher in the 2nd repetition for the S/E/E compared with S/S/E (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). The <italic>post hoc</italic> 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 (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01 for both), and significantly higher in the 2nd repetition for the S/E/E compared with the S/S/E (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). The <italic>post hoc</italic> 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 (<italic>p</italic> = 0.04; <italic>p</italic> = 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.</p>