When women do certain types of arm exercises that involve stretching the muscle while contracting it, they tend to feel more soreness and their muscles get thicker — probably because of inflammation and fluid buildup.

39

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

39

Community contributions welcome

39

The effects of concentric and eccentric exercise performed at long muscle length on muscle damage

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2025 Dec

The study found that both types of arm exercises (squeezing and stretching) caused similar soreness and muscle swelling in women, especially when done with the arm extended, which supports the idea that both can cause muscle stress in that position.

Contradicting (0)

0

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The effects of concentric and eccentric exercise performed at long muscle length on muscle damage

Score: 39

DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2025.2577034

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