The Claim

In untrained young men, training volume has no significant effect on upper-body muscle cross-sectional area, as demonstrated by equivalent trapezius muscle growth between one-set and three-set resistance training groups over an 11-week period.

Source: DISSIMILAR EFFECTS OF ONE‐ AND THREE‐SET STRENGTH TRAINING ON STRENGTH AND MUSCLE MASS GAINS IN UPPER AND LOWER BODY IN UNTRAINED SUBJECTS

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
54score
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.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In untrained young men, performing one set or three sets of resistance exercises results in the same amount of growth in the trapezius muscle over 11 weeks.

See the scientific wording

In untrained young men, training volume does not significantly affect upper-body muscle cross-sectional area, as evidenced by no difference in trapezius muscle growth between one-set and three-set training groups over 11 weeks.

Why this might work

When untrained men lift weights, their upper-body muscles reach a point where adding more sets does not increase protein building because the muscle's ability to respond to training signals is already maxed out after one set.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: DISSIMILAR EFFECTS OF ONE‐ AND THREE‐SET STRENGTH TRAINING ON STRENGTH AND MUSCLE MASS GAINS IN UPPER AND LOWER BODY IN UNTRAINED SUBJECTS

    In guys who’ve never lifted weights before, doing three sets of upper-body exercises didn’t make their shoulder and back muscles grow any bigger than doing just one set over 11 weeks.

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.

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