Comparison of Strength Differences and Joint Action Durations Between Full and Partial Range-of-Motion Bench Press Exercise

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to study strength differences following an acute exposure to full and partial range-of-motion (ROM) bench press exercise. In addition, we studied elbow joint action durations (via electrogoniometry) during full ROM and partial ROM one repetition maximum (1RM) and five repetition maximum (5RM) bench press exercise. Five strength-trained, male volunteers, age (mean ± SD) 25.6 ± 3.36 years, were tested on two separate occasions separated by 4 days. Results indicate that partial ROM bench press performance increased significantly for both the 1RM and 5RM conditions (4.8 and 4.1%, respectively, p < 0.05). Joint action durations during the flexion phase were significantly shorter than the extension phase for the full ROM 1RM only. For the 5RM, flexion durations increased significantly during both full and partial ROM (p < 0.01) but extensions showed no consistent pattern. This investigation, while demonstrating that strength differences can occur with an acute exposure to partial ROM resistance exercise, also provides insight into joint action durations in the execution of full ROM and partial ROM resistance exercise.