Even if you lift the same total amount each week, spreading it across more days can still make you stronger—frequency matters on its own.
Scientific Claim
The effect of resistance training frequency on strength gains is detectable even when total weekly volume is held constant, suggesting frequency independently influences strength development.
Original Statement
“All models were adjusted for the duration of the intervention and training status. The posterior probability for strength was 100%, suggesting strength gains increase with increasing frequency, albeit with diminishing returns.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim implies an independent effect, which requires causal inference. The study design cannot rule out residual confounding, so 'influences' is too strong.
More Accurate Statement
“Resistance training frequency is associated with strength gains even when total weekly volume is held constant, suggesting frequency may independently relate to strength development.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The Resistance Training Dose Response: Meta-Regressions Exploring the Effects of Weekly Volume and Frequency on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Gains.
Even if you do the same total amount of lifting each week, doing it across more days can still make you stronger—this study found clear evidence for that.