Electromyographic comparison of traditional fitness machines, outdoor fitness equipment without load selectors, and outdoor fitness equipment with load selectors in a seated chest press exercise in trained young men

Abstract

Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) are strength training installations comparable to those found in indoor gyms but are located outdoors with greater accessibility. However, the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness remains limited. The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of upper limb muscle groups during the use of a traditional seated chest press (SCP) machine, a classic OFE SCP (OFE-SCP), and a new OFESCP featuring a load selector system (BIOFIT-SCP). The sample was composed of 34 active young men. EMG activity of five muscle groups was analyzed: the anterior deltoid (AD), the clavicular (CP) and sternal (SP) heads of the pectoralis major, and the lateral (LHTB) and long heads of the triceps brachii (LongHTB), under different intensities. The OFE-SCP showed significantly lower EMG activity compared with the SCP and BIOFIT-SCP in all muscles and phases (p < 0.001). Significantly lower EMG activity for the SP in all three phases was found on the BIOFIT-SCP compared with the SCP (p < 0.001), but it was significantly higher for the LHTB and AD in the BIOFIT-SCP compared with the SCP during the full and concentric phases (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In conclusion, training with the OFE-SCP generates less EMG activity than traditional machine training, while, in general, BIOFIT-SCP proved effective for strength training comparable to the SCP.