Table 3.

Mean ± standard deviation activation amplitude across all subjects (n = 24) for each muscle by exercise phase expressed as a percentage of the mean ensemble averages of the bench press (entire repetition). With the exception of the pectoralis major sternal, concentric activation amplitude was significantly greater than eccentric activation amplitude within each muscle.

	Concentric			Eccentric
	Bench press	Incline press	Shoulder press	Bench press	Incline press	Shoulder press
Upper trapezius	103.5 ± 6.4	374.0 ± 201.7 ∗	1164.7 ± 533.2†	96.6 ± 6.0	305.6 ± 169.4 ∗	951.7 ± 443.3†
Anterior deltoid	132.8 ± 13.5	264.1 ± 59.4 ∗	354.5 ± 159.9†	68.1 ± 14.6	164.4 ± 49.0 ∗	252.3 ± 86.8†
Pectoralis major sternal	127.2 ± 16.0‡	114.3 ± 25.1‡	40.0 ± 21.6	73.5 ± 15.9‡	70.2 ± 22.8‡	38.7 ± 26.5
Pectoralis major clavicular	130.5 ± 14.8‡	175.0 ± 50.1∗‡	90.8 ± 47.3	70.6 ± 14.6	106.8 ± 42.3∗‡	76.7 ± 46.0

  ^*Significantly greater than bench press.

^†Significantly greater than bench press and incline press.

^‡Significantly greater than shoulder press.