Pareja Blanco, FernandoAlcázar, JuliánCornejo Daza, Pedro JesúsSánchez-Valdepeñas Mateos-Aparicio, JuanRodriguez Lopez, CarlosHidalgo de Mora, JavierSánchez Moreno, MiguelBachero Mena, BeatrizAlegre, Luis MOrtega Becerra, Manuel Alejandro2025-11-172025-11-172020-08-02Sánchez-Valdepeñas J, Rodriguez-Lopez C, Hidalgo-de Mora J, Sánchez-Moreno M, Bachero-Mena B, Alegre LM, Ortega-Becerra M. Effects of velocity loss in the bench press exercise on strength gains, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020 Nov;30(11):2154-2166.10.1111/sms.13775https://hdl.handle.net/10433/25050Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of four velocity-based training (VBT) programs in bench press (BP) between a wide range of velocity loss (VL) thresholds-0% (VL0), 15% (VL15), 25% (VL25), and 50% (VL50)-on strength gains, neuromuscular adaptations, and muscle hypertrophy. Methods: Sixty-four resistance-trained young men were randomly assigned into four groups (VL0, VL15, VL25, and VL50) that differed in the VL allowed in each set. Subjects followed a VBT program for 8-weeks using the BP exercise. Before and after the VBT program the following tests were performed: (a) cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements of pectoralis major (PM) muscle; (b) maximal isometric test; (c) progressive loading test; and (d) fatigue test. Results: Significant group x time interactions were observed for CSA (P < .01) and peak root mean square in PM (peak RMS-PM, P < .05). VL50 showed significantly greater gains in CSA than VL0 (P < .05). Only the VL15 group showed significant increases in peak RMS-PM (P < .01). Moreover, only VL0 showed significant gains in the early rate of force development (RFD, P = .05), while VL25 and VL50 improved in the late RFD (P ≤ .01-.05). No significant group × time interactions were found for any of the dynamic strength variables analyzed, although all groups showed significant improvements in all these parameters. Conclusion: Higher VL thresholds allowed for a greater volume load which maximized muscle hypertrophy, whereas lower VL thresholds evoked positive neuromuscular-related adaptations. No significant differences were found between groups for strength gains, despite the wide differences in the total volume accumulated by each group.application/pdfenAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/FatigueNeural adaptationsResistance trainingStructural adaptationsTraining prescriptionVelocity-based trainingjournal articleopen access