An electromyography analysis of 3 muscles surrounding the shoulder joint during the performance of a chest press exercise at several angles.

Abstract in brief

• The study investigated how different angles of the bench press (0°, 28°, 44°, and 56°) affect muscle activation of the clavicular head and the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major, as well as the anterior deltoid, in 15 healthy men performing the exercise at 70% of their max.
• Results showed that the clavicular head was most active at 44° and 56°, the sternocostal head was most active at 0°, and the anterior deltoid was most active at higher angles (28°, 44°, 56°), indicating each muscle responds differently depending on the bench angle.
• To effectively target and recruit these shoulder and chest muscles during a workout, including both flat and incline presses could be beneficial, as different angles emphasize different muscles.]