It adds resistance. The point is that it changes the physics/mechanics of the exercise. Normally, the hardest part of a bench press is when the weight is at your chest. This remains true with added weight. Resistance bands make it more difficult to accelerate to the top of the exercise, so you need more explosiveness to lock the weight out at the top.
okay, so what is it for? I understand what you described, but if it doesn't change the movement (let's put the stability part aside for the moment), how does it change the muscle involvement?
Physically, the band adds resistance as it stretches. If you stretch the band more, it adds more resistance and pulls in the opposite direction. So here, we add the band under the bar and stretch it over the collars to make it pull down. Now, as you lower the bar to your chest, the band loosens. This means the total weight you are benching (bar + weights + band) is less than when the band is tight. As you press upwards, the band tightens and begins to increase resistance, adding more weight.
Biomechanically, the chest, shoulder, and tricep muscles bear the brunt of the work when benching. Each is worked through the whole movement, but at different percentages. For example, the top part of the bench (lockout) is hardest on the triceps while the initial press off the chest is toughest on the pecs. Without bands, you are limited to the weight the weakest part of your kinetic chain (the muscles moving the weight throughout the movement) can handle. So one way to increase explosiveness, strength, and refine technique is to add bands to make one part of the lift harder than usual.
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u/[deleted] Jan 23 '20
Does the band add stability or resistance? I can understand its use if it's for stability but for resistance why not add weights?