‘Men’s Health’ references study by Mike Lawrence and Lara Carlson
Men’s Health recently featured an article that referenced research conducted by Michael Lawrence, M.S., manager of the Motion Analysis Laboratory in the Department of Physical Therapy, and Lara Carlson, DPE., FACSM, associate professor in the Westbrook College of Health Professions.
"The 15 Best Exercises for Your Chest" adapts a principle that was studied by Lawrence and Carlson in the context of squatting, applying it to the performance of bench press.
The article states that adding chains or bands to the ends of a barbell when bench pressing makes the load less stable, which, in turn, recruits the body’s core muscles.