DETERMINING THE OPTIMUM BAR-VELOCITY IN THE BARBELL HIP THRUST EXERCISE.

Abstract
Purpose: To identify the bar-velocities that optimize power output in the barbell hip thrust (BHT) exercise. Methods: Forty athletes from two sports disciplines (30 track & field sprinters and jumpers and 10 rugby union players) participated in this study. Maximum bar-power outputs and their respective bar-velocities were assessed in the BHT exercise. Athletes were divided, using a median split analysis, into two groups according to their bar-power outputs in the BHT (“higher” and “lower” power groups). The magnitude-based inferences method was used to analyze the differences between groups in the power and velocity outcomes. To analyze the capacity of the bar-velocities to determine the maximum power values, the coefficient of variation (CV%) was also calculated. Results: Athletes achieved the maximum power outputs at a mean velocity, mean propulsive velocity, and peak velocity of 0.92 ± 0.04 m.s-1 (CV: 4.1%), 1.02 ± 0.05 m.s-1 (CV: 4.4%), and 1.72 ± 0.14 m.s-1 (CV: 8.4%), respectively. No meaningful differences were observed in the optimum bar-velocities between higher and lower power groups. Conclusions: Independent of the athletes’ power output and bar-velocity variable, the optimum power loads frequently occur at very close bar-velocities.