Even though you do more reps and keep your muscles under tension longer with the pause method, your body doesn’t produce more lactic acid or muscle damage markers — meaning intensity matters more than total reps.

Scientific Claim

In trained men, the 'zero point' method does not produce greater increases in blood lactate or myoglobin than the traditional method, despite higher repetitions and time under tension, suggesting metabolic and damage responses are load-dependent rather than volume-dependent.

Original Statement

“The zero point method displayed a higher number of repetitions and time under tension than the traditional method, with no difference in the total training volume, echo intensity, algometry, lactate, and myoglobin.”

From study:Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The comparison between TUT and biochemical markers is direct and statistically analyzed. The conclusion is appropriately framed as an association.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2023 Dec 22

Even though the 'zero point' method had more reps and longer effort, it didn’t make muscles more sore or produce more waste products than the heavier, traditional method—meaning how heavy the weight is matters more than how many reps you do.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Acute Effect of the “Zero Point” Method on Muscle Thickness and Muscle Damage in Trained Men

Score: 46

DOI: 10.3390/sports12010006

Similar Assertions

You can lift almost a third less weight using the pause method, but still do the same total amount of work — and even do more reps and keep your muscles under tension longer.

75%

Adding a one-second pause at the bottom of each bench press doesn’t make your muscles more damaged or sore the next day than lifting heavy without pausing.

75%

Even though one method uses lighter weights with pauses and more reps, and the other uses heavier weights with fewer reps, both make the muscles equally tired in terms of lactic acid buildup.

72%

Both the pause method and the heavy-lift method cause the same amount of muscle cell leakage into the blood after a workout — meaning neither one causes more muscle damage than the other.

71%

The pause method doesn’t make your muscles more sore the next day or two after your workout than the normal heavy-lift method.

71%