Impact of the “Sling Shot” Supportive Device on Upper-Body Neuromuscular Activity during the Bench Press Exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the muscle activity between the sling shot assisted (SS) and control (CONT) flat barbell bench press for selected external loads of 70%, 85%, 100% one-repetition maximum (1RM). Ten resistance-trained men participated in the study (age = 22.2 ± 1.9 years, body mass = 88.7 ± 11.2 kg, body height = 179.5 ± 4.1, 1RM in the bench press = 127.25 ± 25.86 kg, and strength training experience = 6 ± 2.5 years). Evaluation of peak muscle activity of the dominant body side was carried out using surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded for the triceps brachii, pectoralis major, and anterior deltoid during each attempt. The three-way repeated measure ANOVA revealed statistically significant main interaction for condition x muscle group (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.569); load x muscle group (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.709); and condition x load (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.418). A main effect was also observed for condition (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.968); load (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.976); and muscle group (p < 0.01; η2 = 0.977). The post hoc analysis for the main effect of the condition indicated statistically significant decrease in %MVIC for the SS compared to CONT condition (74.9 vs. 88.9%MVIC; p < 0.01; ES = 0.39). The results of this study showed that using the SS significantly affects the muscle activity pattern of the flat bench press and results in its acute decrease in comparison to an equal load under CONT conditions. The SS device may be an effective tool both in rehabilitation and strength training protocols by increasing stability with a reduction of muscular activity of the prime movers.

A Comparison of Electromyographic Inter-Limb Asymmetry during a Standard versus a Sling Shot Assisted Bench Press Exercise

“…Generally the Sling shot is a passive element, but during movement (especially in the eccentric contraction), the strain of the material of which the Sling shot is made ensures additional elastic energy which assists the athlete during the eccentric phase of movement providing a "rebound" effect during the concentric phase of the lift, while increasing the lifted load and power output (Wilk et al, 2020b(Wilk et al, , 2020cWojdala et al, 2020). The utilization of the Sling shot increases one-repetition maximum (1RM) test results (Dugdale et al, 2019;Ye et al, 2014), increases the maximal number of performed repetitions (Niblock and Steele, 2017;Pedrosa et al, 2020), bar velocity and power output (Dugdale et al, 2019;Ye et al, 2014) as well as changes in sEMG activity of the prime movers (Dugdale et al, 2019;Wojdala et al, 2020;Ye et al, 2014). It was evidenced that the Sling shot used during the bench press caused a decrease in sEMG of the prime movers, however, the degree of these changes depends upon the external load and the muscles examined (Wojdala et al, 2020).…”

“…The utilization of the Sling shot increases one-repetition maximum (1RM) test results (Dugdale et al, 2019;Ye et al, 2014), increases the maximal number of performed repetitions (Niblock and Steele, 2017;Pedrosa et al, 2020), bar velocity and power output (Dugdale et al, 2019;Ye et al, 2014) as well as changes in sEMG activity of the prime movers (Dugdale et al, 2019;Wojdala et al, 2020;Ye et al, 2014). It was evidenced that the Sling shot used during the bench press caused a decrease in sEMG of the prime movers, however, the degree of these changes depends upon the external load and the muscles examined (Wojdala et al, 2020).…”

“…Previous research on the impact of the Sling shot on sEMG activity concerned only the dominant side of the body (Dugdale et al, 2019;Wojdala et al, 2020;Ye et al, 2014). This seems a major limitation of those studies due to significant differences in sEMG amplitude between the dominant and non-dominant limbs Jarosz et al, 2020).…”

“…If so, it would create opportunities to use the Sling shot as a rehabilitation tool to maximize athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury. Moreover, considering that previous studies have shown that the Sling shot causes a decrease in sEMG activity of the dominant side of the body (Dugdale et al, 2019;Wojdala et al, 2020;Ye et al, 2014), it was expected that the application of the Sling shot would reduce the sEMG activity of both the dominant and non-dominant limbs. The sample and the design, together with the research data, have been reported in an earlier publication (Wojdala et al, 2020).…”

“…Moreover, considering that previous studies have shown that the Sling shot causes a decrease in sEMG activity of the dominant side of the body (Dugdale et al, 2019;Wojdala et al, 2020;Ye et al, 2014), it was expected that the application of the Sling shot would reduce the sEMG activity of both the dominant and non-dominant limbs. The sample and the design, together with the research data, have been reported in an earlier publication (Wojdala et al, 2020). However, the present study extends the previous experiment by examining the unused data of the non-dominant side of the body along with calculating the limb symmetry index (LSI).…”