Assessing bench press strength after training without the benefit of vision

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to examine whether upper extremity strength training visually impaired can increase strength on the bench press. Participants in the study were 35 students, 9 females (19.67 yrs +- 1.118) and 26 males (20.58 yrs +-1.70), taking a strength training class at a rural Oklahoma University. All students were administered a health history questionnaire and a survey to determine their eligibility for the study. Each participant was administered a 5-RM bench press and then split into two groups, an experimental and a control group. Both group were administered the same treatment, with the one exception, that the experimental group trained on the bench press using blind-folds.

Findings and Conclusions: The increases in 5-RM on the bench press were not statistically significant. However, numerically there were greater increases in 5-RM in the experimental group compared to the control group. The experimental group experienced a greater percentage of change both between group and between group and sex. The results may be attributed to the strength of the test and a more stringent test such as a computerized test or a 1-RM may have resulted in significant results. However, numeric increases can lead us to further explore this area.