No matter which type of chest press you do—machine, barbell, or dumbbells—you’ll feel about the same level of soreness in your chest muscles after a hard workout, and it’ll go away at the same rate.

Scientific Claim

Pectoralis major muscle soreness recovers similarly across Smith machine, barbell, and dumbbell chest press in resistance-trained men, with no significant differences in soreness intensity or time course over 96 hours.

Original Statement

“There was no difference in pectoralis major muscle soreness between groups (p > 0.05, ƒ = 0.11). All groups recovered by 96 hours.”

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 and non-significant p-values with effect size confirm no difference. The claim is precise and matches the data without overstatement.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (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 whether guys used a Smith machine, barbell, or dumbbells for chest presses, their chest muscle soreness felt the same and healed at the same rate over four days.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

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

Even though guys lifted the same total weight, those using barbells felt way more sore in their triceps for longer than those using dumbbells—suggesting barbells might be harder on the back of the arm.

81%

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%

After a tough chest workout, guys using barbells or machines feel sore in their triceps for a few days, but those using dumbbells don’t feel any soreness at all—even though they lifted the same total weight.

76%