After doing barbell chest presses, guys felt less ready to train again—even two days later—than after using dumbbells or a machine, meaning they needed an extra day to feel recovered.

Scientific Claim

The barbell chest press results in lower subjective readiness for subsequent training compared to dumbbell and Smith machine chest press in resistance-trained men, with recovery lagging by up to 24 additional hours.

Original Statement

“The barbell group did not recover till 96 hours (χ2 = 31.33, p < 0.001). Subjective physical fitness recovery was higher in the dumbbell group at 24 and 72 hours than in the barbell group (p ≤ 0.05).”

From study:Chest Press Exercises With Different Stability Requirements Result in Similar Muscle Damage Recovery in Resistance-Trained Men

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The RCT design with validated subjective measures and statistical significance supports definitive language. The claim accurately reflects the data without overgeneralization.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Chest Press Exercises With Different Stability Requirements Result in Similar Muscle Damage Recovery in Resistance-Trained Men

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2017 Jan

The study found that all three types of chest presses — barbell, dumbbell, and Smith machine — caused similar levels of muscle soreness and recovery time; so the idea that barbell presses make you feel more tired for a full day longer is not backed up by this research.

Source Study

Chest Press Exercises With Different Stability Requirements Result in Similar Muscle Damage Recovery in Resistance-Trained Men

Score: 47

DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000001453

Similar Assertions

After doing a barbell chest workout, guys felt way more tired and less recovered than after using dumbbells or a machine—even two days later—suggesting barbells leave you feeling more drained.

87%

When trained men do different types of chest presses—using a machine, barbell, or dumbbells—their chest muscles and shoulder strength bounce back at about the same rate after a tough workout, no matter how stable the equipment is.

77%

When using dumbbells, guys had to use lighter weights per rep—about 18% less than with a barbell—to complete the same number of reps and total work.

74%

No matter which chest press they used, the guys completed almost exactly the same number of reps in every set—showing they pushed just as hard regardless of equipment.

73%

How much total weight you lift matters more for muscle damage than whether you use a barbell or dumbbells—even if one feels harder or heavier per rep.

73%