The Claim

In trained females, increasing resistance training volume from 22 to 30 or 38 sets per week over a 12-week period does not result in significantly greater increases in summed lateral thigh muscle thickness compared to maintaining a volume of 22 sets per week.

Source: Does increasing the resistance-training volume lead to greater gains? The effects of weekly set progressions on muscular adaptations in females

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
47score
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

For women who already train with weights, doing more sets per week—up to 38—does not lead to noticeably bigger thigh muscles after 12 weeks compared to doing 22 sets per week.

See the scientific wording

In trained females, increasing resistance training volume from 22 to 30 or 38 sets per week over 12 weeks does not lead to significantly greater gains in summed lateral thigh muscle thickness compared to maintaining 22 sets per week.

Why this might work

When muscles are trained regularly, they build new protein at a certain maximum rate. After a certain number of workouts per week, the muscles can't make protein any faster, so doing more workouts doesn't make them grow any bigger.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Does increasing the resistance-training volume lead to greater gains? The effects of weekly set progressions on muscular adaptations in females

    For women who already lift weights, doing more sets per week — even up to 38 — didn’t make their thighs noticeably bigger after 12 weeks compared to doing 22 sets. More sets helped with strength and one muscle measurement, but not the overall thigh thickness.

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.