Development of a field test for upper-body power

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of upper-body power is crucial for athletic performance assessment.
• Existing methods for power measurement can be complex or require specialized equipment.
• A need exists for a practical and accessible field test for upper-body power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a field test for measuring upper-body power using a Smith machine (SM) for the bench press (BP) movement.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the developed SM BP field test.

Main Methods:

• A digital timing device was designed to calculate power during the SM BP movement.
• Pilot testing involved determining 1 repetition maximums (1RM) and analyzing power output at varying resistances.
• Reliability was assessed using repeated SM power measurements over three days.
• Validity was determined by comparing SM test scores with a criterion measure, the Linea Isokinetic BP station.

Main Results:

• Power curve analysis identified the average relative percentage of 1RM for peak power.
• Intraclass correlation (R=0.998) indicated high reliability across three test trials.
• A high correlation (r=0.987) was found between the SM field test and the criterion measure.
• A non-significant t-test indicated no systematic error between the field and criterion measures.

Conclusions:

• The developed Smith machine bench press test is a reliable field method for assessing upper-body power.
• This test offers a valid and practical alternative to criterion measures for power assessment.
• The findings support the use of this SM BP field test in sports science and training settings.