Abstract
Using the AnyBody human modeling system with identical weights and varying grip distance (40.0 cm, 50.0 cm, and 60.0 cm), the stress distribution for the pectoralis and the muscle of upper extremity during a bench press was simulated, and the surface myoelectricity (EMG) method was validated. Methods. The physical parameters driving the model of the human body were selected as weights of 35.0% (25.0 kg) and grip distances. Conclusion. The validation of AnyBody software was proved as a high validity by using EMG test of four muscles’ activity compared to AnyBody software. During a bench press, the pectoralis major is the main muscle, the pectoralis major discharge increases with the height of barbell increases, and the pectoralis major discharge decreases as the short grip width increases. When the grip width equals the shoulder width, the value of pectoralis minor is lowest; when the grip width is smaller or larger than the shoulder width, the value is larger. As the short grip distance increases, the discharge of posterior deltoid muscle and triceps surface myoelectricity increases; thus, as the short grip distance increases, the deltoid muscle and triceps assist the pectoralis major during a bench press.
1. Introduction
Muscle strength is the ability of the body to complete a motion using muscle contractions to overcome a given resistance [1]. Because it is a critical aspect in human movement, muscle strength plays an important role in improving human health and athletic performance. Muscles are composed of bundles of slender, cylindrical arrangements of muscle cells, which are also called muscle fibers and are the basic unit of muscle function. Muscle mainly consists of the anterolateral group and the medial group, which allows the body to perform squats and sit-ups and also allows for bending and spinning of the body, amongst other actions [2, 3]. During training, muscle fibers can become enlarged, resulting in an increase in both the muscle meat’s cross-sectional area and the muscle’s capillary networks, thickened muscles and connective tissue, increased muscle glycogen, and so forth. These changes result in stronger muscle contractions. Scientifically based, efficient strength training is necessary to increase muscle strength, and scientific training methods attract significant amounts of attention from academic and professional sports teams worldwide [4, 5].
Most of the literature on muscle strength training illustrates methods to improve muscle strength using the physiological structure of muscles, improved training methods, and various training preparation activities as well as emphasizing relaxing after training and following a nutritious diet. Few studies have examined the muscle contraction characteristics of a specific strength training exercise [6, 7]. In addition, only a few studies have examined the electrical characteristics of a specific muscle strength training activity using simulations of the human body, and the study of the scientific method of narration is also very general [8–13]. Therefore, a description and contrastive analysis concerning the aspects of human body surface myoelectricity characteristics and surface myoelectricity are conducted in this paper using an AnyBody simulation of a bench press strength training exercise. Based on basic principles of kinematic data and motor function and morphology, this paper analyzes the characteristics and functions of muscle structure and the discipline of collaboration characteristics using the specific action structure analysis and surface myoelectricity test methods. When the AnyBody simulation model is used to analyze strength training using bench presses, the activation and collaboration characteristics for varying grip distances using identical weight load percentages offer the data necessary for scientifically based strength training. This study tests the bench press exercise using a weight load of 35% and grip widths corresponding to 40%, 50%, and 60% of the subject’s doubled shoulder widths.
Bench press is short for elevated bench press, also called a bench or lie-put-forward, and mainly trains the pectoralis major (a small chest muscle), deltoid toe, triceps, and elbow muscles, and is practiced before exercising the saw muscle, biceps, beak brachial muscle, forearm muscles, and so forth. Bench presses involve a number of muscles and have especially significant effects on the development of the upper limbs extensor and pectoralis major, an exercise that is unmatched by other exercises and therefore is known as the “king of exercises” [14]. Currently, there are a number of different types of strength training for different sports, where strength training utilizing bench presses has been adopted by a number of sports coaches [15–18]. Bench presses are one of the most basic actions in strength training and are a required exercise for athletes in professional power lifting contest. Bench presses are necessary for men’s basketball players in Europe to improve their muscle strength control during rebounding. Similarly, bench presses are an essential physical exercise for firearm marksmanship practice [19, 20]. The grip distance should be only slightly wider than the shoulders, which is required to be no larger than 81 cm in power lifting. During a bench press, an athlete’s trunk cannot be twisted, and an equal amount of strength is required from both the left and right sides of the body. Moreover, the athlete’s arms must be perpendicular to the trunk and parallel to the ground, their feet must be separated, and their hips and back cannot leave the bench.
2. Methods
Six male subjects, all 19 and 20 years of age, volunteered to participate in this study. Their average heights, weights, and shoulder widths were cm, kg, and cm, respectively. The subjects were healthy freshman males that had passed the college entrance examination. The subjects did not have a history of severe trauma to their chest or nerve dysfunction. Before the experiment, the lengths of subject’s trunks, upper arms, forearms, thighs, calves, and feet were measured to determine their main morphological indices.
Six subjects lifting 20 kg, 25 kg, and 30 kg weight with varying short grips as a percentage of their twice shoulder breadth (40%, 50%, and 60% doubled shoulder width) completed 10 consecutive bench presses, which is the time required to record the process.
2.1. Model Construction
For this study, the standing model in the AnyBody 5.2 software package was modified according to the subjects’ height, weight, and the average of their main morphological indices while considering their proportionality and fat percentages for the ScalingLengthMassFat function, and gravity was taken to be 9.81 N/kg [21, 22].
The contraction of muscles during motion cannot be accurately simulated because it is regulated by the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, when the model needs to determine the actual muscle freedom required, redundancy issues may arise if a quantity that is greater than the number of muscles in the model is needed. AnyBody is used to provide the optimal solutions
For the strength model, represents the objective function, which is the criterion of the recruitment of the CNS and minimized to all unknown forces in the activity. represents the system’s coefficient matrix for the unknown forces, represents the applied loads and inertial force, is the muscle forces, and is muscle strength. Equation (2) is the polynomial criteria. Equation (3), as constraints to the optimization, is the dynamic equilibrium equation. Based on muscle fatigue, its activity is directly related to the assumption that the strength distribution follows the optimization criterion of minimizing the sum of the power of the muscle activity, guaranteeing a minimum level of fatigue, where [23].
The model was modified from the standing position to supine position with upper arm flexion and extension, and the average morphological indices of subjects were imported into the model (Figure 1). In this paper, six participants lifted weights corresponding to 30% (20 kg), 35% (25 kg), and 35% to 40% (30 kg) of their weight. The subjects had varying shoulder breadths and used varying grip widths (corresponding to 40%, 50%, and 60% doubled shoulder width) during 10 consecutive bench presses. The time required to record the process and the time to complete the bench press were chosen as suitable for the relative loads used in sports and were used as physical parameters for the simulation. The pectoralis major muscle group is used to approximate the maximum force of the pectoralis major. The output of the pectoralis major force was found to vary during the exercise.
After multiple subject morphological input parameters, short grip distances, and loads, respective AnyBody model results and inverse dynamics analyses are obtained, and the five largest pectoralis major muscle force values are found. The model library in the AnyBody simulation software defines the pectoralis major muscle bundles in article 14: five muscle bundles (pectoralis major thoracic: 1–5) are connected to the front surface of manubrium mesosternum and the costal cartilage which start from the first to the sixth; five muscle bundles (pectoralis major clavicular: 1–5) are connected to the inside of half collar bone; and the other four (pectoralis minor: 1–4) are connected to the costal cartilage which start from the third to the fifth and end with processus coracoideus scapulae. The power corresponding to the largest pectoralis major muscle bundle stress value is selected to represent the force of the pectoralis major.
2.2. The Surface Myoelectricity
The Noraxon Surface Electromyography test system records the EMG data of the subjects’ upper arm movements, bow deltoids, right side of the right upper arm bicep’s brachii, right upper limb triceps brachii, right side of the upper limb flexor carpi ulnaris, and trunk pectoralis major muscle. The sampling period is 3 s, and the sampling frequency is 1000 Hz. The original electromyographic signal is filtered (using a bandpass filter of 10–450 Hz) and smoothed (RMS, 50 ms), and the output of the five muscles with a 3 s integration is given as the electromyography (IEMG) value.
2.3. Data Statistics
Using the Noraxon software to analyze the surface myoelectricity data, the results were analyzed using SPSS17.0 with a single factor variance analysis and were given as .
3. Results
3.1. Choosing 35% Weights of the Human Body (25 kg) as a Relatively Suitable Load
Using 20 kg loads, six subjects completed 10 consecutive, quick bench presses at increasing speeds; using 30 kg loads, the six subjects were unable to complete 10 consecutive bench presses, indicating that the load is too large; using 35% (25 kg) loads, the six subjects completed 10 consecutive bench presses using three short grip widths (corresponding to shoulder widths of 40%, 50%, and 60% of their double shoulder breadths). This gives elbow angular speeds of °/ms, °/ms, and °/ms, respectively, and when completed at a moderate speed, a smaller average standard deviation is achieved indicating that the action is relatively stable. Based on the above discussion, a choice of 25 kg (35% of weight) was made as an appropriate bench press load (Table 1).
3.2. The Simulation Results for the Human Body under a Load (25 kg)
3.2.1. The Position Analysis of the Human Body Model
The subjects’ forearm flex was separately completed 10 times. The time required to complete a bench press was recorded and indicated that the light (20 kg) load allowed the six subjects to complete their bench presses quicker. A load of 30 kg is too heavy of a load, and two subjects could not complete their bench presses. A load of 25 kg could be bench pressed by all six subjects. The bench press speed is relatively stable. A suitable load for athletes was chosen to be 25 kg (Figure 1).
An appropriate load (25 kg) using three short grip distances (40 cm, 50 cm, and 60 cm) was input into the AnyBody simulation software as shown in Figure 1 and as shown in the simulation model. An inverse dynamics analysis is used to analyze the pectoralis major muscle bundle stress. For each parameter input to the AnyBody simulation, a load of 35% (25 kg) and doubled shoulder widths corresponding to 40% (40 cm), 50% (50 cm), and 60% (60 cm) of the shoulder breadth are used as the experimental variables to drive the simulation of the human body.
3.2.2. The Major Pectoralis Muscle Force
Table 2 shows that the output force of pectoralis major thoracic in the three grip width is the largest between the three parts of pectoralis, pectoralis major clavicles take a second part, and both of the two-part muscles decrease with the grip width increase. The values of pectoralis minor at different grip width, respectively, are 114.0 N, 108.9 N, and 136.6 N. That is, when the grip width equals the width of shoulder, the value is lowest; when the grip width is smaller or larger than the width of shoulder, the value of force is larger. And the largest force of pectoralis minor appears when the perpendicular distance between trunk and barbell is minimum.
3.2.3. The Change of the Major Pectoralis with 35% (25 kg) Weight of Body
The bench press exercise, which mainly involves bones and muscles, is obviously driven by the upper limb muscles and hindquarters cadres pectoralis major [24]. In the AnyBody simulation analysis, the five major pectoralis major thoracic muscles show similar force trends, where the force of the pectoralis major reflects the stress of the pectoralis major changes. As shown in Figure 2, one time of bench press was normalized. A normalized bench press is from the barbell at the lowest station to the highest position. Obviously pectoralis major strength increases with the rising of the barbell.
3.2.4. Analysis of the Major Pectoralis’s Force Using Three Grips
Under a load corresponding to a 35% weight (25 kg), using doubled shoulder widths corresponding to 40% (40 cm), 50% (50 cm), and 60% (60 cm) of the doubled shoulder breadth, three different grip distances were used to complete a bench press. According to Table 2, the pectoralis major plays an important role in bench press, the maximum value of pectoralis minor appears when the barbell lies in the lowest station. The pectoralis major force is found to be 433.1 N when the short grip distance is 40 cm; when the short grip distance is decreased to 50 cm, the stress is 402.3 N. When the short grip is increased to 60 cm the grip force is 385.6 N for the pectoralis major muscle groups; the force decreases with the grip distance increases. When the short grip distance is small, strong contractions of the pectoralis major occur resulting in higher activity and a larger strength output (Figure 3).
3.2.5. The Major Muscle Force during Arm Extension Simulated by Modelling System
Based on a biomechanical simulation, Table 3 shows that the pectoralis major discharge increases as the short grip distance gradually decreases but still accounts for a majority of the muscle’s strength. The triceps decreases with the grip width increase, and the posterior deltoid is on the opposite, which indicates that the posterior deltoid muscle and triceps are a major support work to the pectoralis major muscle during a bench presses’ process.
3.3. Verification Using Surface Electromyography Methods
3.3.1. Muscle Electromyography MVC Ratio (%) for Five Complete Bench Presses
Each subject completed 10 consecutive bench presses using arms to initially support the barbell at nearest distance of chest and subsequently raise the barbell until their arms were fully extended. Before the test, 25 kg dumbbell tests for the five largest surface myoelectric signals during isometric muscle contraction were analyzed and marked as the muscle of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The mean square root electromyography (RMS) was recorded during the experiments. The result can be described by a ratio, that is, the RMS divided by the MVC, which can be used to quantify the muscle’s strength. Table 4 shows that four muscles are involved in a bench press, and the pectoralis major, deltoid muscle, and triceps’ average discharge are important to power muscles during a bench press.
3.3.2. Comparison of the Four Muscles’ MVC Ratio (%) during a Bench Press
The MVC%, a quantity found by dividing the electrical peak by the muscle’s isotonic contraction’s electricity peak, reflects the muscles involved in a bench press, and it is concluded that the ratio can quantify the reaction muscle’s activation levels. Table 5 shows the six subjects under 25 kg loads using three short grip distances to complete 10 bench presses and that the MVC%, pectoralis major, and deltoid are at higher activation levels. Both the activation of the pectoralis major level and the short grip have a significant correlation. As seen in Figure 4, the pectoralis major power increases as the short grip distance gradually decreases but still accounts for a majority of the muscle’s power. The triceps and deltoid provide the force for the grip as the short grip distance increases thus indicating that the deltoid muscle and triceps are a major auxiliary power source to the pectoralis major muscle during a bench presses’ finish.
3.3.3. The Maximum Stress and Pectoralis Major MVC% Change Analysis
During a bench press in the AnyBody simulation, the maximum stress of the pectoralis major reflects the pectoralis major force output; the MVC% is found before the muscle contraction to determine the change in the electricity peak ratio, discharge level, and degree of muscle activation. As seen in Figure 5, the maximum stress and pectoralis major MVC% are closely related (Correlation Index: , ) and can respond to changes in the pectoralis major during the bench press. Using 40 cm, 50 cm, and 60 cm short grips during a bench press, the maximum stress of pectoralis major thoracic and pectoralis major MVC% values decreases with increasing short grip, which confirms the observation that the pectoralis major force output increases with decreasing short grip distance, and the pectoralis major activation level decreases with increasing short grip.
3.3.4. Integral Electromyographic Activity Values Using Varying Short Grips
RMS refers to the amplitude of period of the electromyography curve’s envelope, to a certain extent, and characterizes the motor unit during a certain time period during a complete discharge [12].
During a bench press, the time integral of pectoralis major muscle electricity value is used to quantify the value of the muscle discharge, which reflects the level and discharge of the pectoralis major. As seen in Figure 6, the six subjects’ IEMG values are larger, which explains why the pectoralis major is one of the major muscles involved in a bench press. The six subjects’ integral electrical values decrease with increasing short grip distance; the discharge of pectoralis major indicates a reduced force output.
4. Conclusion
Different loads affect a muscle’s strength during bench presses, which affects the training efficiency and the athlete’s resulting fitness levels. Thus, it is crucial to determine an appropriate training load for a bench press.
Varying the short grip distance results in a varying force output of the pectoralis muscle group during a bench press. As the short grip distance increases the pectoralis major produces less force during a bench press. The grip force is 433.1 N for the pectoralis major muscle groups at a width of 40 cm; when the short grip is increased to 50 cm, the stress decreases to 402.3 N. The short grip force is 385.6 N when the short grip width is increased to 60 cm. With the increase of barbell height, the discharge of pectoralis major increases. The values of pectoralis minor at different grip, respectively, are 114.0 N, 108.6 N, and 136.6 N. When the grip width equals the shoulder width, the value of pectoralis minor is lowest; when the grip width is smaller or larger than the shoulder width, the value is larger.
During a bench press, the posterior deltoid muscle and triceps are major support to the major muscle. This result between AnyBody software and Surface Electromyography is the same, which proved high validity for AnyBody software.
During a bench press, the pectoralis major discharge increases with the height of barbell increases, and the pectoralis major surface myoelectricity value gradually decreases as the short grip width increases. As the short grip distance increases, the discharge of posterior deltoid muscle and triceps surface myoelectricity increases; thus, as the short grip distance increases, the deltoid muscle and triceps assist the pectoralis major during a bench press.
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Ministry of Education of Humanities and Social Science Project (11YJA880037).