The Claim

Does the type of exercise matter for where your muscles grow, even if you do the same amount of work?

Source: The role of exercise selection in regional Muscle Hypertrophy: A randomized controlled trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
41score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Even if you work out the same amount and intensity, what exercise you pick can change which part of your muscle gets bigger.

See the scientific wording

Exercise selection may be responsible for differences in regional muscle growth patterns between leg extensions and smith machine squats, even when training volume and intensity are held constant.

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: The role of exercise selection in regional Muscle Hypertrophy: A randomized controlled trial

    The study found that doing leg extensions made different parts of the thigh muscle grow compared to doing squats—even when people worked out the same amount and intensity—proving that the type of exercise matters for where muscles grow.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.