Predicting 1 RM on seated bench press, inclined bench press and dumbell fly using bench press 1 RM

Abstract

One repetition maximum (1RM) testing has been used for determining maximum strength training and prescription. However specific the test is, the time consumed for the protocol presents a practical limitation. In this sense, the purpose of the study was to verify the relationship between 1RM values of the Bench Press (BP), inclined bench press (IBP), seated bench press (SBP) and dumbbell fly (DF) of trained men as well as to establish prediction equations for 1RM determining from BP values for the remaining exercises. 9 trained men (25,78 ± 2,91 years, height 180,6 ± 5,4cm, body mass 83,16 ± 8,07kg and training experience 3,56 ± 1,01 years) performed the 1RM test for each of the exercises in a randomly with a 72 hours interval. 1RM values were 93,78 ± 13,87kg on BP, 82,11 ± 13,20kg on IBP, 110,33 ± 16,77 on SBP and 65,78 ± 10,97kg on DF. Using 1RM on BP, we found equations with correlations that were very strong (r2 = 0,91) for SBP, strong (r2 = 0,82) for IBP and moderate (r2 = 0,68) for DF. With these results, we conclude that the equations found can be applied during strength training prescription, in a way to make it easier to test muscle strength and exercise prescription through percent of 1RM.