Bench Press Load-Velocity Profiles and Strength After Overload and Taper Microcyles in Male Powerlifters

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of an overload microcycle and taper on bench press velocity and to determine if the load-velocity relationship could accurately predict 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Twelve male powerlifters participated in resistance training structured into an introduction microcycle, overloadmicrocycle (PostOL), and taper (PostTP). At the end of eachmicrocycle, subjects completed a bench press for 1RM assessment consisting of warm-up sets at 40, 55, 70, and 85% of a previously established 1RM. The mean concentric velocity (MCV) was recorded during each warm-up set. A predicted 1RM (p1RM) was calculated using an individualized load-velocity profile (LVP). The average MCV decreased after PostOL (0.66 +/- 0.07 m.s(-1)) compared with baseline (BL) (rho = 0.003; 0.60 +/- 0.11 m.s(-1)) but increased after PostTP (0.67 +/- 0.09 m.s(-1)). One-repetition maximum increased from PostOL (146.7 +/- 19.8 kg) to PostTP (rho = 0.002; 156.1 +/- 21.0 kg), with no differences observed between other test sessions (rho > 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis indicated that p1RM was consistently higher than measured 1RM (3.4-7.8 kg), and the limits of agreement were extremely wide. However, very large to near perfect correlations (r = 0.89 to 0.96) were observed between p1RM and 1RM during BL, PostOL, and PostTP. The load-velocity relationship established from submaximal sets did not accurately predict 1RM, but MCV was affected by changes in weekly training loads. Velocity-based measurements seem to be more sensitive to changes in training loads than maximal strength.