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.
Scientific Claim
Dumbbell chest press requires approximately 18.6% less load per repetition than barbell chest press and 15.2% less than Smith machine chest press in resistance-trained men, despite similar total volume.
Original Statement
“The load lifted by the dumbbell group (62.8 ± 9.5 kg) was 18.6% lower than the barbell group (74.5 ± 12.5 kg, p = 0.042) and 15.2% lower than the Smith machine group (72.4 ± 9.7 kg, p = 0.05).”
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 included direct load measurements and statistical testing, supporting definitive language. The percentages and p-values are accurately reported.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
Chest Press Exercises With Different Stability Requirements Result in Similar Muscle Damage Recovery in Resistance-Trained Men
The study looked at how sore and tired people got after doing three types of chest presses, but it never measured how heavy the weights were — so we can’t tell if one type needs less weight than another.