Energy expenditure during bench press and squat exercises

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Metabolic Research

Background:

• Resistance training (RT) is popular, yet its metabolic cost quantification lacks accuracy.
• Previous methods for estimating RT energy expenditure may underestimate the true caloric cost.
• Developing precise metabolic cost measures is crucial for exercise prescription and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate accurate prediction equations for the metabolic cost of resistance training exercises.
• To quantify the caloric expenditure during bench press (BP) and parallel squat (PS) using indirect calorimetry.
• To compare the predicted caloric cost with previously reported values in RT literature.

Main Methods:

• Indirect calorimetry was used to measure steady-state oxygen consumption (VO2) during 5-minute bouts of BP and PS exercises.
• Trained men (n=23 for BP, n=20 for PS) performed exercises at various intensities in a randomized order.
• Multiple regression analysis incorporated VO2, load (kg), and lifting distance (cm) to derive prediction equations.

Main Results:

• Prediction equations were established for BP (R²=0.728) and PS (R²=0.656), incorporating load and distance.
• Calculated caloric expenditure using these equations yielded significantly higher values than previously reported for RT.
• The derived equations offer a more accurate estimation of caloric cost for BP and PS.

Conclusions:

• The developed prediction equations represent a more accurate method for estimating the caloric cost of bench press and parallel squat exercises.
• These findings suggest that the metabolic cost of RT may be higher than previously estimated.
• Further research may refine accuracy for very high-intensity RT scenarios.