Even though the guys doing the most workouts looked like they might have grown a little more, the difference wasn’t big enough to say for sure that more sets = more muscle.
Scientific Claim
In resistance-trained males, progressive increases in weekly resistance training volume from 22 to 52 sets over 12 weeks do not produce a statistically significant dose-response relationship for muscle hypertrophy, despite a trend toward greater gains in higher-volume groups.
Original Statement
“However, an inspection of 95% confidence intervals suggests a potential dose–response relationship, with results appearing to plateau in the higher volume conditions.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The authors describe a 'potential dose–response relationship' based on non-significant trends and confidence intervals that include zero. This overstates the evidence, as the data do not meet statistical thresholds for inference.
More Accurate Statement
“In resistance-trained males, progressive increases in weekly resistance training volume from 22 to 52 sets over 12 weeks are associated with a non-significant trend toward greater muscle hypertrophy, but no dose-response relationship is established.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of Different Weekly Set Progressions on Muscular Adaptations in Trained Males: Is There a Dose–Response Effect?
Even though some guys did more workouts and got a little bigger, the difference wasn’t big enough to say for sure that doing more sets made them grow more muscle — so more training didn’t clearly lead to more muscle growth.