Doing bicep curls with two different methods—either lowering the weight gradually or keeping it heavy—both made the upper arm muscles thicker in young women after 12 weeks of training.

Scientific Claim

Drop-set and traditional strength training protocols, when equated for volume and performed twice weekly for 12 weeks, are associated with increased muscle thickness in the elbow flexors of young women aged approximately 22 years.

Original Statement

“There was a significant increase in all MT measurements between T0 and T1 for the training groups (p<0.05).”

From study:Drop set versus traditional strength training protocols equated in volume on muscle thickness in women

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 abstract does not explicitly confirm randomization or control for confounders, so causation cannot be assumed. The verb 'are associated with' is more appropriate than implying direct effect.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Drop set versus traditional strength training protocols equated in volume on muscle thickness in women

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

Both types of weight training—drop-set and regular—made the biceps of young women thicker when they did the same total amount of work, and neither was better than the other.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Drop set versus traditional strength training protocols equated in volume on muscle thickness in women

Score: 38

DOI: 10.47197/retos.v61.100701

Similar Assertions

After 12 weeks of training with the same total workload, neither method made the biceps noticeably thicker than the other.

92%

Women who did any kind of upper-body strength training ended up with thicker biceps than women who didn’t train their upper body at all.

92%

After doing bicep curls 24 times over 12 weeks, women’s upper arm muscles got noticeably thicker, no matter which way they did the curls.

86%

Both ways of lifting weights — regular sets and drop sets — make your biceps and forearms a little bigger after 10 weeks, by about 2%.

80%

Both methods probably push your muscles to about the same level of fatigue, which is why they end up making your arms grow about the same amount.

77%