The affect of grip width on bench press performance and risk of injury

Green, Carly; Comfort, Paul

Abstract

Bodybuilders, athletes, and recreational lifters select a grip width during the bench press that they believe will produce a greater force output. Research has demonstrated that a wide grip (> 1.5 biacromial width) may increase the risk of shoulder injury, including anterior shoulder instability, atraumatic osteolysis of distal clavicle, and pectoralis major rupture. Reducing grip width to ≤1.5 biacromial width appears to reduce this risk and does not affect muscle recruitment patterns, only resulting in a ±5% difference in one repetition maximum.

Citation

Green, C., & Comfort, P. (2007). The affect of grip width on bench press performance and risk of injury. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 29(5), 10-14. https://doi.org/10.1519/00126548-200710000-00001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2007-10
• Deposit Date: Aug 1, 2023
• Journal: Strength and Conditioning Journal
• Print ISSN: 1524-1602
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 10-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/00126548-200710000-00001