2023 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 71-77
The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in muscle activity of the four muscles i.e., the sternal part of the pectoralis major (PMstem), the clavicular part of the pectoralis major (PMclav), anterior part of the deltoid (Del), and the lateral head of the triceps (TRI) induced by the different incline angles bench press exercise. The participants healthy adult males who had resistance training experience. The relative load was 70% of the 1 repetition maximum (RM) at each inclination angle, and the absolute weight was 40 kg, and the electromyogram was measured at each angle of inclination. In the 70% 1RM, muscle activity in PMstem was significantly higher in 0° (flat bench press) compared to the other angles, and there were no significant difference in muscle activities in the other muscles at each incline angle. In the 40 kg, muscle activities in PMstem and DEL in 0°was significantly lower than the other angles, but muscle activity in PMclav in 0°was significantly higher than other angles. No significant difference in muscle activity in TRI was observed among each tilt angle. At a 70% 1RM, our results suggested that the flat bench press could generates high muscle activity in all four muscles simultaneously. On the other hand, 40kg results suggested that the 20°,40°and 60°incline bench press could generates higher muscle activity than flat bench press in PMclav.
