Doing one set of weights with decreasing weight without resting (drop sets) made young men’s triceps muscles grow more than doing three regular sets over six weeks.
Scientific Claim
Drop set resistance training is associated with a 10.0±3.7% increase in triceps muscle cross-sectional area after 6 weeks of training in young men, which is greater than the 5.1±2.1% increase observed with conventional three-set training.
Original Statement
“Both groups showed significant increases in triceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) (10.0±3.7%, effect size (ES) =0.47 for DS and 5.1±2.1%, ES=0.25 for NS).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study lacks confirmed randomization, so causation cannot be inferred. The claim uses a descriptive quantitative comparison but implies superiority without causal justification.
More Accurate Statement
“Drop set resistance training is associated with a greater increase in triceps muscle cross-sectional area (10.0±3.7%) compared to conventional three-set training (5.1±2.1%) after 6 weeks in young men.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of drop set resistance training on acute stress indicators and long-term muscle hypertrophy and strength.
The study found that doing one set of drop training made guys' triceps grow 10% bigger, while doing three normal sets only made them grow 5% bigger — so drop sets worked better for muscle growth.