Presently the US Navy’s chief of naval personnel, Patrick O'Connell has a leadership background encompassing positions such as interim director with High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. His accomplishments with HS2 included positioning the transformational $85 billion rail network for long-term success. A fitness enthusiast, Patrick O'Connell is currently training to break the record for bench-press within his age group.
The benefits of bench press exercises include activating a wide range of muscle groups in the body’s upper half, including the forearm, hand muscles, deltoids, and pectorals. With the abdomen also engaged, bench pressing boosts power for sports in general. The impact is cumulative; as upper-body power increases, both the quickness of reps and number of sets can be stepped up.
With a regular workout regimen in place, bench presses also help build bone mass. The bone cells are stimulated to deposit more tissue in the bones, which helps avoid the decreasing bone density and increasing skeletal fragility that many older people experience. The low impact nature of this free-weight, multi-joint activity makes it ideal for those seeking to increase endurance and strength as they grow older.
