Base de datos_SEX INFLUENCED THE LOAD-VELOCITY RELATIONSHIP MORE THAN THE RELATIVE STRENGTH

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze how sex and relative strength [RS, one-repetition maximum (1RM) divided by body mass] affect the relative load (%1RM)-velocity relationship in the bench press exercise. Methods: One hundred and twenty young healthy men and women were assigned to four groups based on their RS in bench press: men with an RS greater than 1.1 kg·kg⁻¹ (MRS>1.1), men with an RS between 0.7 and 1.0 kg·kg⁻¹ (MRS=1.0–0.7), women with an RS between 0.7 and 1.0 kg·kg⁻¹ (WRS=1.0–0.7), and women with an RS lower than 0.6 kg·kg⁻¹ (WRS<0.6). All participants performed a progressive loading test in bench press. Results: A strong %1RM-velocity relationship was observed across all groups (R² = 0.97-0.95). Moreover, even though RS was matched between MRS=1.0–0.7 and WRS=1.0–0.7 groups, significant differences (p<0.05) were found in the velocity values achieved at each %1RM from 20% to 95% 1RM. However, no significant differences (P>0.05) within sex were observed at any intensity among individuals with varying RS levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sex-based differences in the %1RM-velocity relationship persist across comparable ranges of RS, indicating that these disparities are likely driven by sex-related factors rather than differences in strength levels per se.