Muscle Mechanical PropertiesNCT07539337
Chest Press Variations and Pectoralis Major Mechanics
A study testing Bench Press Exercise and Machine Chest Press Exercise in people with Muscle Mechanical Properties and Resistance Training, run by Nihat Sarıalioğlu at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled study aims to compare the acute effects of bench press (BP) and machine chest press (MCP) exercises on the mechanical properties of the pectoralis major muscle in resistance-trained bodybuilders. Sixteen male athletes are randomly assigned to BP or MCP groups. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 40 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Muscle Mechanical Properties, Resistance Training
- What is being tested?
- Bench Press Exercise and Machine Chest Press Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 16 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2025to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 40 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male participants
- Aged between 20 and 40 years
- Minimum of 5 years of regular resistance training experience
- Competitive bodybuilding athletes
Who cannot join
- History of musculoskeletal injury affecting the pectoralis major, shoulder, or upper extremity within the last 12 months
- History of upper extremity surgery
- Use of anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing substances within the last 12 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Giresun University - Sports Science Faculty
Giresun, Centre, 28100
About this study
Official title: Bench Press and Machine Chest Press Elicit Distinct Acute Mechanical Responses in the Pectoralis Major: A Randomized Controlled Study
This randomized controlled study aims to compare the acute effects of bench press (BP) and machine chest press (MCP) exercises on the mechanical properties of the pectoralis major muscle in resistance-trained bodybuilders. Sixteen male athletes are randomly assigned to BP or MCP groups. Both groups perform four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum with equalized volume load. Muscle mechanical properties, including oscillation frequency, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep, are measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after exercise. The study hypothesizes that BP will induce greater stiffness due to higher stabilization demands, whereas MCP will produce greater increases in oscillation frequency due to more isolated loading.
Read the detailed description
Exercise selection is a key determinant of acute neuromuscular responses during resistance training. Bench press (BP) and machine chest press (MCP) are widely used exercises targeting the pectoralis major, but they differ biomechanically in stabilization demands and load distribution. While BP requires multi-joint stabilization and increased neuromuscular coordination, MCP provides a guided movement pattern that isolates the pectoralis major.
Despite similar muscle activation reported in previous electromyographic studies, the acute mechanical responses of muscle tissue to these exercises have not been directly compared. Muscle mechanical properties, including oscillation frequency, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep, provide objective insights into neuromuscular function and fatigue.
In this randomized controlled trial, sixteen male bodybuilders with at least five years of resistance training experience are assigned to BP or MCP groups. Both groups perform four sets of ten repetitions at 80% 1RM. MyotonPRO is used to assess mechanical properties of the pectoralis major before and immediately after exercise.
The primary aim is to determine whether biomechanical differences between BP and MCP produce distinct acute mechanical responses in muscle tissue.
- Conditions
- Muscle Mechanical Properties, Resistance Training
- Being tested
- Bench Press Exercise, Machine Chest Press Exercise
- Keywords
- Resistance Training, Myotonometry, Bench Press, Machine Chest Press, Exercise selection
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Bench Press ExerciseBehavioural
Participants performed a resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using barbell bench press, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets.
Machine Chest Press ExerciseBehavioural
Participants performed a resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using a machine chest press, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Bench Press Group | Experimental | Participants performed a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using barbell bench press with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. Receives: Behavioral: Bench Press Exercise |
| Machine Chest Press Group | Experimental | Participants performed a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using a machine chest press with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. Receives: Behavioral: Machine Chest Press Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in pectoralis major muscle stiffness measured by MyotonPRO
Muscle stiffness (N/m) of the pectoralis major was measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after the exercise protocol.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-exercise (within 90 seconds)
Change in oscillation frequency (muscle tone) of the pectoralis major measured by MyotonPRO
Muscle stiffness (N/m) and oscillation frequency (Hz), representing muscle tone, were measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after the exercise protocol.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-exercise (within 90 seconds)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2025
- Primary completion30 Aug 2025
- Study completion31 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Muscle Mechanical PropertiesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: bench press or machine chest press. Each group performs a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum. Muscle mechanical properties are assessed before and immediately after the intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nihat Sarıalioğlu
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Nihat Sarıalioğlu, Giresun University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07539337
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GRU-SBF-NS-05
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to the small sample size and to ensure participant confidentiality and data protection.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Bench Press and Machine Chest Press Elicit Distinct Acute Mechanical Responses in the Pectoralis Major: A Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07539337
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- GRU-SBF-NS-05
- Conditions
- Muscle Mechanical Properties, Resistance Training
- Keywords
- Resistance Training, Myotonometry, Bench Press, Machine Chest Press, Exercise selection
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Nihat SarıalioğluUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled study aims to compare the acute effects of bench press (BP) and machine chest press (MCP) exercises on the mechanical properties of the pectoralis major muscle in resistance-trained bodybuilders. Sixteen male athletes are randomly assigned to BP or MCP groups. Both groups perform four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum with equalized volume load. Muscle mechanical properties, including oscillation frequency, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep, are measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after exercise. The study hypothesizes that BP will induce greater stiffness due to higher stabilization demands, whereas MCP will produce greater increases in oscillation frequency due to more isolated loading.
Detailed description
Exercise selection is a key determinant of acute neuromuscular responses during resistance training. Bench press (BP) and machine chest press (MCP) are widely used exercises targeting the pectoralis major, but they differ biomechanically in stabilization demands and load distribution. While BP requires multi-joint stabilization and increased neuromuscular coordination, MCP provides a guided movement pattern that isolates the pectoralis major.
Despite similar muscle activation reported in previous electromyographic studies, the acute mechanical responses of muscle tissue to these exercises have not been directly compared. Muscle mechanical properties, including oscillation frequency, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep, provide objective insights into neuromuscular function and fatigue.
In this randomized controlled trial, sixteen male bodybuilders with at least five years of resistance training experience are assigned to BP or MCP groups. Both groups perform four sets of ten repetitions at 80% 1RM. MyotonPRO is used to assess mechanical properties of the pectoralis major before and immediately after exercise.
The primary aim is to determine whether biomechanical differences between BP and MCP produce distinct acute mechanical responses in muscle tissue.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: bench press or machine chest press. Each group performs a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum. Muscle mechanical properties are assessed before and immediately after the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Bench Press Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Bench Press ExerciseParticipants performed a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using barbell bench press with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. |
| Machine Chest Press Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Machine Chest Press ExerciseParticipants performed a single-session resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using a machine chest press with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male participants
- Aged between 20 and 40 years
- Minimum of 5 years of regular resistance training experience
- Competitive bodybuilding athletes
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- History of musculoskeletal injury affecting the pectoralis major, shoulder, or upper extremity within the last 12 months
- History of upper extremity surgery
- Use of anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing substances within the last 12 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Bench Press ExerciseParticipants performed a resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using barbell bench press, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. | Behavioural | Bench Press Group |
| Machine Chest Press ExerciseParticipants performed a resistance training protocol consisting of four sets of ten repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum using a machine chest press, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. | Behavioural | Machine Chest Press Group |
Primary outcome
Change in pectoralis major muscle stiffness measured by MyotonPRO
Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-exercise (within 90 seconds)
Muscle stiffness (N/m) of the pectoralis major was measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after the exercise protocol.
Change in oscillation frequency (muscle tone) of the pectoralis major measured by MyotonPRO
Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-exercise (within 90 seconds)
Muscle stiffness (N/m) and oscillation frequency (Hz), representing muscle tone, were measured using MyotonPRO before and immediately after the exercise protocol.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared due to the small sample size and to ensure participant confidentiality and data protection.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Bench Press Exercise and Machine Chest Press Exercise in people with Muscle Mechanical Properties and Resistance Training, run by Nihat Sarıalioğlu at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in pectoralis major muscle stiffness measured by MyotonPRO (time frame: Baseline and immediately post-exercise (within 90 seconds)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Apr 2026.