(52) ESTIMATING THE 1RM OF A WEIGHTLIFTING PULLING DERIVATIVE USING BARBELL VELOCITY

ESTIMATING THE 1RM OF A WEIGHTLIFTING PULLING DERIVATIVE USING BARBELL VELOCITY

J.C. Utt¹, B.S. Techmanski², C.R. Kissick³, T.J. Suchomel¹

¹Carroll University, Waukesha, WI; ²Athlete Performance, Mequon, WI; ³New York Mets, New York, NY

Purpose: To estimate the one repetition maximum (1RM) of the hang high pull (HHP) using individual load-velocity profiles and the terminal velocity achieved during a hang power clean (HPC) 1RM.

Methods: 15 resistance-trained men (age: 25.5 ± 4.5 years, body mass (BM): 88.8 ± 15.5 kg, height: 176.1 ± 8.5 cm, HPC 1RM: 109.9 ± 16.4 kg, relative 1RM HPC: 1.3 ± 0.2 kg/kg) with previous HPC experience participated in this study. The subjects participated in two separate testing sessions. During the first session, the subjects completed 1RM HPC testing with a linear position transducer attached to the barbell. In addition to the maximal load, the peak barbell velocity (PBV) that occurred during each subject’s 1RM was recorded. In the following session, each subject performed three repetitions each of the HHP exercise with 20, 40, 60, and 80% of their 1RM HPC. A linear position transducer was attached to the barbell during the testing session and was used to measure PBV during each trial. The average PBV produced at each load was used to create a load-velocity profile for each subject. Linear regression equations (y = mx+b) were then used to predict the 1RM HHP by matching the terminal PBV during each subject’s 1RM HPC testing.

Results: The average load-velocity profile and regression equation for the subjects is shown in Figure 1. The terminal PBV for the 1RM HPC was 1.74 ± 0.30 m/s. The PBV produced during the HHP at 20, 40, 60, and 80% 1RM was 2.96 ± 0.36 m/s, 2.55 ± 0.20 m/s, 2.26 ± 0.17 m/s, and 1.98 ± 0.20 m/s, respectively. The average estimated 1RM HHP was 98.0 ± 19.3% of the 1RM HPC.

Conclusions: On average, the estimated 1RM HHP was similar to that of the 1RM HPC. Individual load-velocity profiles for the HHP may be used to estimate a 1RM HHP. Practical Applications: Practitioners may be able to use velocity-based training as a tool to create load-velocity profiles of the HHP exercise. However, it is important that these profiles be developed using the PBV produced by each individual across a spectrum of loads rather than a group average. Our findings suggest that the average estimated 1RM HHP is similar to that of a 1RM HPC, suggesting that the HHP may be loaded using percentages of the HPC. Researchers may consider generating load-velocity profiles for other weightlifting pulling derivatives to estimate a 1RM for each exercise using the same criteria outlined in the current study.  

Acknowledgements: None