Both the pause-and-lift method and the normal heavy-lift method cause the same amount of muscle puffiness right after a workout in trained guys — neither one makes the muscles look or feel more swollen than the other.

Scientific Claim

In trained men, both the 'zero point' and traditional bench press methods produce similar acute increases in echo intensity across all measured muscles (deltoid, pectoralis major, triceps brachii), indicating comparable levels of muscle swelling or edema.

Original Statement

“There was no interaction for the EI of the clavicular deltoid muscle, PM clavicular and external portions, and triceps brachii lateral head... A main effect of time was observed... The moment after (p=0.001) was significantly superior when compared to the moment pre-exercise for all muscles.”

From study:Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design supports quantitative comparison of echo intensity, and the null finding is appropriately reported without causal language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2023 Dec 22

Both lifting methods caused similar swelling in most arm muscles, but the 'zero point' method made the shoulder muscle swell more than the traditional method — so they’re not exactly the same.

Source Study

Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Score: 46

DOI: 10.3390/sports12010006

Similar Assertions

Even though both methods make your triceps the same size after a workout, the pause method makes the ultrasound image look more 'fuzzy' — meaning something inside the muscle changed differently.

78%

Even though both methods make your triceps swell the same amount, the pause method causes more 'haze' on the ultrasound image of your triceps muscle — suggesting different internal changes.

77%

After doing blood flow-restricted exercise, the ultrasound images of muscles didn’t show any change in texture with different cuffs, but when more pressure was applied, the images suggested the muscle tissue became slightly more watery.

73%

When trained guys use the 'zero point' bench press technique, their shoulder muscles swell more right after the workout than when they use the normal method — but their chest and arm muscles swell the same either way.

71%

Even though the pause method makes you do more reps and keeps your muscles under tension longer, it doesn’t make your chest or arm muscles puff up more than the normal heavy-lift method.

71%