Performance Differences Between the Arched and Flat Bench Press in Beginner and Experienced Paralympic Powerlifters

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Strength and Conditioning

Background:

• Paralympic powerlifting involves specific strength training techniques.
• Understanding biomechanical differences in bench press techniques is crucial for optimizing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the total load, barbell trajectory, and mean velocity between arched and flat bench press techniques.
• To analyze these differences in both beginner (BG) and experienced (EG) Paralympic powerlifters.

Main Methods:

• Twenty beginners and 23 experienced Paralympic powerlifters performed one-maximum repetition tests.
• Bench press performance was assessed using both flat and arched techniques.
• Maximum strength, barbell trajectory, and mean velocity were measured.

Main Results:

• Experienced powerlifters demonstrated significantly higher total load compared to beginners (21.1% increase).
• No significant differences were found in total load, trajectory, or velocity between arched and flat bench press techniques for either group.
• Differences in performance during eccentric and concentric phases ranged from trivial to moderate effect sizes.

Conclusions:

• Technique (arched vs. flat) did not significantly impact bench press performance metrics in this study.
• Experienced Paralympic powerlifters exhibit superior strength compared to beginners.
• Further research is needed to definitively establish optimal bench press techniques for Paralympic athletes.