Effects of Load on Peak Power in the Clean and Push Press

Strength and conditioning specialists often seek to identify the movements in which peak power can be attained in athletes. The clean, a high-speed lift typically incorporated into a periodization program for the production of peak power, requires a high degree of technical expertise in order to perform successfully. The push press, by contrast, is a more commonly used movement in strength and conditioning, and one with which athletes are more familiar and proficient. Purpose: To compare peak power differences in the clean and push press across various loads. Methods: Healthy men (n = 10), aged 18–30 years, completed one test session during which 2 repetitions of the power clean and push press at 50, 60 and 80% of their reported 1 repetition maximum (1RM) were completed. Order of exercises performed was randomized. Simultaneous measurement of bar displacement was made by virtue of a 12 camera system (Vicon, Oxford, UK). Correlational analyses were conducted on peak power between the lifts at each load. Additionally, separate lift by load analysis of variance was conducted on peak power. Results: The effects of load were statistically similar for the 2 lifts as evidenced by the interaction (p = 0.409). Peak power during the clean was significantly greater than the push press (p = 0.005, d = 0.80). Peak power was directly related to load. As load increased, peak power significantly increased between 50% 1RM and 60% 1RM (p = 0.025, d = 0.49), however the difference between 60% 1RM and 80% 1RM (p = 0.057, d = 0.35) was not statistically significant. The results of the correlational analysis failed to reveal significant relationships between the lifts at 50% 1RM (r = 0.486, p = 0.154), 60% 1RM (r = 0.619, p = 0.056), and 80% 1RM (r = 0.402, p = 0.249). Conclusions: The lack of interactions suggests that, while peak power was greater in the clean, likely a function of the speed of the lift necessary for success, peak power increased in the push press as load increased, similar to that seen in the clean. However, there was no direct correlation in peak power between the 2 exercises across all load intensities. Further investigation of other power movements should be conducted compared to the clean. Practical Applications: Athletic recruitment and assessment is constantly evolving and requires the tester to be able to quickly and thoroughly evaluate a prospective athlete\u27s physical abilities. The trajectory and magnitude of peak power distributions across loads in these 2 lifts supports the use of the push press as a possible alternative to measuring and evaluating power in athletes. This is of particular importance in sports and/or at sport levels in which athletes may be unfamiliar or not proficient at the movement mechanics of a clean. However, because there was no correlation between the 2 lifts the push press cannot replace the clean as an absolute determinate of peak power, but may be better reserved as a last resort for assessment of athletes who are unable to perform the clean movement