Modification of the YMCA Bench Press Test with a body weight variable.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine whether performance on the YMCA's Bench Press Test would be significantly altered by the inclusion of a factor which determined the workload in relation to each individual's body weight. Methods of Research: Ninety-six male subjects, 18 to 26 years of age, were randomly selected for the study." Each subject performed both the YMCA's Bench Press Test (BPT) which sets workload at 80 pounds for all males and a modification of the DPT (MOD BPT) which determines workload in relation to each individual's body weight. The tests were scored in accordance with the number of repetitions successfully 'completed. A t-test was used to determine a whether a difference existed between the BPT and the MOD BPT at the .05 level of significance. Percentages were calculated to determine the numbers and percentages of subjects whose fitness rating on the BPT changed as a result of the weight variable being added in the MOD BPT. A multiple regression was run to determine the efficiency of BPT scores and body weight as predictors of performance on the BPT. Conclusions~ There was a significant difference between performance on the BPT and performance on the MOD BPT. The majority of the subjects did change fitness categories as a result of the addition of the body weight variable. Both BPT scores and body weight were determined to be very significant as predictors of performance on the MOD BPT. It was concluded that when testing upper body muscular endurance, the test would provide more information pertinent to each individual's muscular endurance needs if the workload used was determine relative to each individual's body weight. Thus, the MOD BPT, a relative test, is a more efficient test of upper body muscular endurance than the BPT, an absolute test. The time and effort required to implement this change would be minimal and well worth the effort.