After doing strength training for 12 weeks, older women—whether they started strong or weak—gained about the same amount of strength in their arms and the same amount of muscle, no matter how strong they were at the start.

Scientific Claim

Resistance training for 12 weeks produces similar increases in upper-body strength (chest press and preacher curl) and skeletal muscle mass in older women regardless of their baseline strength level.

Original Statement

“The 1RM increase was similar between groups for the chest press [ESdiff = 0.10 (95%CI: −0.52, 0.31), P = 0.617] and preacher curl [ESdiff = 0.08 (95%CI: −0.48, 0.32), P = 0.681]. The increases of segmental LST and SMM were similar between-groups (ESdiff contains zero, P ≥ 0.434).”

From study:Weaker older women gain more lower body strength than their stronger counterparts, but not muscle mass, following 12 weeks of resistance training

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design cannot support claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design is not confirmed as experimental, so 'produces similar increases' implies causation. Only an association can be claimed. The data support no difference, but the verb must be softened to reflect observational limits.

More Accurate Statement

“Resistance training for 12 weeks is associated with similar increases in upper-body strength (chest press and preacher curl) and skeletal muscle mass in older women regardless of their baseline strength level.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Weaker older women gain more lower body strength than their stronger counterparts, but not muscle mass, following 12 weeks of resistance training

Cohort Study

Human

2022 Dec

Older women, whether they were strong or weak to start with, got just as strong in their arms and gained the same amount of muscle after 12 weeks of weight training.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Weaker older women gain more lower body strength than their stronger counterparts, but not muscle mass, following 12 weeks of resistance training

Score: 49

DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2189789

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