A Comparison of Basic Training Variables in the Standard and Cambered Bar Bench Press Performed to Volitional Exhaustion

The objective of this study was to compare the impact of cambered and standard barbells used during the bench press exercise on the number of performed repetitions and mean velocity during a bench press training session that included 5 sets performed to volitional failure at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) (for each barbell type). An additional objective was to determine whether there would be any difference in neuromuscular fatigue assessed by peak velocity changes during bench press throws performed 1 and 24 hours after the cessation of each session. The research participants included 12 healthy resistance-trained men. Participants performed 5 sets of the bench press exercise to volitional failure against 70% of 1RM with the cambered or standard barbell. The Friedman’s test showed an overall trend of a significant decrease in the mean velocity (p < 0.001) and a number of performed repetitions (p < 0.001) from the first to the fifth set (p < 0.006 and p < 0.02, respectively for all) under both conditions, yet neither bar showed significant differences between the corresponding sets. Two-way ANOVA indicated a significant main effect of time (p < 0.001) for peak velocity during the bench press throw. The post-hoc comparisons showed significantly lower peak velocity during the bench press throw one hour after the bench press compared to pre (p = 0.003) and 24-hour post intervention (p = 0.007). Both barbells caused a similar decrease in peak barbell velocity during the bench press throw performed one hour after the bench press training session, with values returning to baseline 24 hours later. This indicates that bench press workouts with either a standard or a cambered barbell present the same training demands.