The Claim

Can leg press training build strength and muscle in trained men even if done only once a week?

Source: Effect of different training frequencies on maximal strength performance and muscle hypertrophy in trained individuals—a within-subject design

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

If you train your legs with the leg press machine for 9 weeks, you’ll get stronger and your thighs will get bigger—even if you do it just once a week or spread it out over three days.

See the scientific wording

In resistance-trained men, the unilateral leg press exercise can produce significant increases in maximal strength and quadriceps muscle size after 9 weeks of training, regardless of whether frequency is one or three times per week.

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Effect of different training frequencies on maximal strength performance and muscle hypertrophy in trained individuals—a within-subject design

    The study found that doing leg presses once a week or three times a week gave the same strength and muscle gains in trained men, as long as the total amount of work was the same. So yes, frequency doesn’t matter — the claim is right.

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.