The Claim

In adults over 60 years of age, resistance training performed more than twice per week does not provide additional benefits for maximal strength or muscle hypertrophy compared to resistance training performed two or fewer times per week.

Source: A meta-regression of the effects of resistance training frequency on muscular strength and hypertrophy in adults over 60 years of age

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
39score
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.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

If you're over 60 and lifting weights, doing it more than twice a week probably won't make you any stronger or give you bigger muscles than doing it just twice a week.

See the scientific wording

In adults over 60 years of age, resistance training performed more than twice per week is unlikely to provide additional benefits for maximal strength or muscle hypertrophy.

Why this might work

After training twice a week, muscles stop growing faster because the body can only build new muscle proteins at a certain rate, and nerves can't activate more muscle fibers than they already are. Doing more workouts doesn't make muscles bigger or stronger because the system is already working at its maximum capacity.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: A meta-regression of the effects of resistance training frequency on muscular strength and hypertrophy in adults over 60 years of age

    For people over 60, lifting weights more than twice a week doesn’t make them much stronger or give them much bigger muscles than lifting twice a week — so doing it more often probably isn’t worth the extra effort.

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.