Free weights vs machines: which really works your chest more?
NCT ID NCT07539337
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at how two common chest exercises—bench press and machine chest press—change the stiffness and tone of the chest muscle right after exercise. Sixteen male bodybuilders did either bench press or machine chest press at the same intensity. The goal was to see which exercise causes more muscle stiffness or tone changes. Results help understand how different exercises affect muscles, but no treatment or health outcome was tested.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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16 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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20 to 40 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male participants * Aged between 20 and 40 years * Minimum of 5 years of regular resistance training experience * Competitive bodybuilding athletes Exclusion Criteria: * History of musculoskeletal injury affecting the pectoralis major, shoulder, or upper extremity within the last 12 months * History of upper extremity surgery * Use of anabolic steroids or performance-enhancing substances within the last 12 months
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Giresun University - Sports Science Faculty
Giresun, Centre, 28100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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