Chest Press

Abstract: This study examined the effects of 4 different resistance training protocols on upper-body strength and local muscle endurance development in children. Untrained boys and girls (mean +/- SD age, 8.1 +/- 1.6 years) trained twice per week for 8 weeks using child-sized weight machines and medicine balls weighing 1-2.5 kg. In addition to general conditioning exercises, subjects in each exercise group performed 1 set of the following exercise protocols for upper-body conditioning: 6-8 repetitions with a heavy load on the chest press exercise (HL, n = 15); 13-15 repetitions with a moderate load on the chest press exercise (ML, n = 16); 6-8 repetitions with a heavy load on the chest press exercise immediately followed by 6-8 medicine ball chest passes (CX, n = 12); or 13-15 medicine ball chest passes (MB, n = 11). Twelve children served as nontraining controls (CT). After training, only the ML and CX groups demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvements in 1RM chest press strength (16.8% and 16.3%, respectively) as compared with the CT group. Local muscle endurance, as determined by the number of repetitions performed posttraining on the chest press exercise with the pretraining 1RM load, significantly increased in the ML group (5.9 +/- 3.2 repetitions) and CX group (5.2 +/- 3.6 repetitions) as compared with the CT group. In terms of enhancing the upper-body strength and local muscle endurance of untrained children, these findings favor the prescription of higher-repetition training protocols during the initial adaptation period.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for performing a chest press exercise are disclosed. A user support and a primary hinge are mounted to a frame. A secondary hinge is mounted to the primary hinge. An arm mounted to the secondary hinge has a handle adapted to be grasped by the user. The two hinges permit the user to displace the handle in either or both the longitudinal and lateral directions. A means for resisting the displacement of the handle, preferably in both the lateral and longitudinal directions, is provided. The resistance means may include an incremental weight stack operably engaged to handle by belts directed by self-aligning pulleys. A second handle, arm and secondary hinge may be provided for the other hand so that the user may exercise both halves of his body. The arms may be connected such that both handles move the same longitudinal and/or lateral distance. To use the exercise machine, a user selects a weight for exercise, sits on the user support, grasps the handle and pushes away from his chest, moving the handle longitudinally and laterally as he so chooses, overcoming the resistance.

Abstract: An improved press arm allows an operator to perform either a traditional straight chest press exercise or to incorporate "butterfly" motion during the performance of the chest press exercise. A main arm is pivotally coupled to the frame of the exercise machine at a main pivot in the same manner as conventional press arms. The main arm includes a cross-beam to which a pair of handle arms are pivotally coupled at secondary pivots. The axes of the secondary pivots are orthogonal to the axis of the main pivot and are inclined with respect to vertical when the press arm is in a rest position. This inclination causes the handle arms to assume a natural rest position under the influence of gravity. The rest positions of the handle arms place the press arm handles at a comfortable starting position for performance of a press exercise. Stops to limit the inward or outward travel of the handle arms are not necessary. A source of exercise resistance resists both forward motion of the press arm assembly and inward motion of the handle arms.

Abstract: An exercise machine has an exercise arm with which an operator can perform either press exercises or a seated row exercise from a single seat. The exercise arm has a main arm that is pivotally coupled to the frame of the exercise machine at a main pivot. In an embodiment where the main pivot is above the exercise machine, the main arm has a pair of arm members that depend downwardly to either side of the exercise position. A pair of handle arms are pivotally coupled to the lower ends of respective members of the main arm. To perform press exercises, the handle arms are positioned so as to extend forwardly from the main arm members. While seated in the exercise position, an operator can perform shoulder press, incline press, chest press and decline press exercises. To perform a seated row exercise, the handle arms are positioned to extend rearwardly from the main arm members and the operator sits in the exercise position facing rearwardly, using the backrest of the seat as a chest cushion. Cooperating stops are provided on the main arm members and handle arms so that the handle arms have a semi-locked position for performing the seated row exercise, yet are free to pivot through the range of angles necessary for performing the various types of press exercises.