Abstract
We examined the effect of breast cancer surgery and adjuvant therapy on the
relationship between bar velocity and relative intensity (load-velocity [L-V]
relationship) of the bench press (BP) exercise. Twenty-two breast cancer
survivors (age: 48.0±8.2 yr., relative strength:
0.40±0.08) completed a loading test up to the one-repetition maximum
(1RM) in the BP using a lightweight carbon bar. General and individual
relationships between relative intensity (%1RM) and mean propulsive
velocity (MPV) were studied. Furthermore, the mean test velocity
(MPVTest) and velocity attained to the 1RM (MPV1RM)
were analyzed. These procedures and analyses were also conducted in 22 healthy
women (age: 47.8±7.1 yr., relative strength: 0.41±0.09)
to examine the differences in velocity parameters derived from these L-V
relationships. Polynomial regressions showed very close relationships
(R2≥0.965) and reduced estimation errors
(≤4.9% 1RM) for both groups. Between-group differences in MPV
attained to each %1RM were small
(≤0.01 m·s−1) and not significant
(p≥0.685). Similarly, the MPVTest
(0.59±0.06 m·s−1) and
MPV1RM
(0.17±0.03 m·s−1) were identical
for breast cancer survivors and healthy women. These results suggest that
practitioners could use the same velocity parameters derived from the BP L-V
relationship to prescribe this exercise in middle-aged women, regardless of
whether they have suffered from breast cancer.
Key words
mastectomy - oncology - velocity-based training - relative intensity - strength
