Previous research has compared the effects of trunk inclination angle on muscle activation using barbells and Smith machines\nin men. Whether similar effects occur with the use of dumbbells or in women remains unknown. The purpose was to compare\nupper extremity surface electromyographical (EMG) activity between dumbbell bench, incline, and shoulder presses. Dominate\narm EMG data were recorded for collegiate-aged female resistance trained individuals (n = 12) and novice female resistance\ntrained exercisers (n = 12) from which average EMG amplitude for each repetition phase (concentric, eccentric) was computed.\nNo significant differences were found between experienced and novice resistance trained individuals. For the upper trapezius and\nanterior deltoidmuscles, shoulder press activation was significantly greater than incline presswhich in turn was significantly greater\nthan bench press across both phases.Thebench and incline presses promoted significantly greater pectoralismajor sternal activation\ncompared to the shoulder press (both phases).While pectoralis major clavicular activation during the incline press eccentric phase\nwas significantly greater than both the bench and shoulder presses, activation during the bench press concentric phase promoted\nsignificantly greater activation than the incline press which in turn was significantly greater than the shoulder press. These results\nprovide evidence for selecting exercises in resistance and rehabilitation programs.
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