This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of bench press
and pull power and muscle strength, which are closely related
to arm swing in female track-and-field sprinters, and to gain an
insight into what is required in the development of resistance
training programs to improve sprint running ability. Nineteen
Japanese collegiate female (8 national-class sprinters and 11
district-class) track-and-field sprinters performed bench press
and pull. Muscle strength was determined with the one repetition
maximum (1RM) and the power was measured in 5-kg step
increases in weight loads using a linear position transducer. Press
power was significantly higher in the national-class sprinters than
in the district-class sprinters at 10 kg, 15 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg, and 35
kg but not for 25 kg. No significant difference was observed in
pull power at any weight loads or 1RM between the groups. There
were no significant relationships between 100-meter running time
and 1RM of bench press and pull, and pull power (r = 0.452, 0.357,
0.567,
p = 0.13, 0.25, 0.06). However, a significant correlation
was observed between 100-m running time and bench press
power (r = 0.712,
p = 0.01). These results suggest the important
role of upper limb power more than muscular strength in highperformance
female sprinters.
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