Effects of Horizontal and Incline Bench Press on Neuromuscular Adaptations in Untrained Young Men
SUENE F. N. CHAVES International Journal of Exercise Science 13(6): 859-872, 2020.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of horizontal and incline bench press as well as the combination of both exercises on
neuromuscular adaptation in untrained young men.
Forty-seven untrained men were randomly assigned to one
of the three groups:
1) a horizontal bench press group (n= 15),
2) an incline bench press group (n= 15), and
3) a combination (horizontal + incline) group (n= 17).
Training was conducted once a week for eight weeks, with
equalized number of sets among groups. Muscle thickness, isometric strength and electromyography (EMG)
amplitude of the pectoralis major were measured one week before and after the training period. There was no
difference between groups for the change in horizontal bench press isometric strength (~ 10 kg increase, p=0.776)
or incline bench press isometric strength (~ 11 kg increase, p=0.333). Changes in muscle thickness differed only in
one of the three sites. The changes in the second intercostal space of the pectoralis major was greatest in the
incline pressure group compared with the horizontal [mean difference (95% CI) of 0.62 (0.23, 1.0) cm, p=0.003]
and combination groups [mean difference (95% CI) of 0.50 (0.14, 0.86) cm, p=0.008]. The change in EMG
amplitude following training differed between groups in only one out of the four sites.
The present results indicate that strength and conditioning professionals might consider that horizontal and incline bench press
exercises, or a combination of both exercises can render similar change in general strength.