In one study, drop sets made the top and middle parts of the front thigh muscle grow a bit more than regular sets — but this didn’t happen in other muscles or in other studies, so it’s not clear if it’s real or just a fluke.

Scientific Claim

Drop set training may elicit greater regional hypertrophy in the proximal and mid portions of the rectus femoris compared to traditional training in young males, based on a single study using MRI, though this finding was not consistent across other muscles or studies.

Original Statement

“Interestingly, Varovic et al. (32) observed greater muscle thickness increases in the proximal- and mid-portions of the rectus femoris favoring DS vs TRAD. This was the only study to investigate hypertrophic changes at different sites along the length of the rectus femoris.”

From study:Unknown Title

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

The claim is based on a single study with no replication, and the authors themselves note it as an isolated finding. Definitive language would be inappropriate; probability language ('may') correctly reflects the limited evidence.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Unknown Title

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

This big review of multiple studies found no real difference between drop sets and regular workouts for muscle growth overall, so it doesn’t support the idea that drop sets make one part of the thigh muscle grow more than others.

Source Study

Unknown Title

Score: 59

DOI: 10.47206/ijsc.v2i1.135

Similar Assertions

In one study, drop sets made the upper and middle parts of the thigh muscle grow more than regular sets, suggesting they might target certain muscle areas better.

93%

When you train your quads, drop sets don’t make the outer thigh muscle grow more than regular sets — both methods make it grow about the same.

81%

Even if you do the same total amount of work, drop sets don’t make your muscles grow more than regular sets — whether you match the weight lifted or not, the results are about the same.

77%

All the research so far is on young, experienced male lifters — we don’t know if drop sets work the same for women, older people, or beginners.

75%

It’s not clear if drop sets work better for people who already lift weights versus beginners — the study had too few participants in each group to tell.

72%