Comparative evaluation of muscular activation and scapular kinematics in a chest press lever machine and a barbell bench press

Abstract

We aimed to compare scapular kinematics and electromyographic activity of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major, clavicular head of the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid and serratus anterior at the barbell bench press and at a chest press lever machine. Concentric and eccentric phases electromyographic activity were compared. Muscle activation was not statistically different between the barbell bench press compared to the chest press lever machine when the volunteers used weight to perform 10 maximal repetitions. But, with 50% of the weight of 10 maximal repetitions, the bench press showed greater activation for the serratus anterior and the clavicular head of pectoralis major muscles in relation to the chest press lever machine. The abduction mobility of the scapular cingulate was higher in chest press lever machine than in barbell bench press (19.8 ° vs 7.8 °) for both conditions. Such results should be taken into account to avoid mistakes in the electromyographic analysis of adjacent muscles and when it is necessary to choose an exercise with greater mobility of the scapular cingulate.