The Claim
Low-load resistance training (20-30 repetitions maximum) performed to muscular failure causes similar muscle hypertrophy as high-load resistance training (6-10 repetitions maximum) in the triceps surae muscles of untrained young men, with both protocols producing approximately 9-11% increases in muscle thickness over an 8-week period.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
When untrained young men lift lighter weights many times until they can't lift anymore, it builds just as much muscle in their calf muscles as lifting heavier weights fewer times. Both ways made their muscles about 10% bigger after 8 weeks.
See the scientific wording
Low-load resistance training (20-30 RM) causes similar muscle hypertrophy as high-load resistance training (6-10 RM) in the triceps surae muscles of untrained young men when performed to muscular failure, with both protocols producing approximately 9-11% increases in muscle thickness over 8 weeks.
What the research says
1 studyThe study did exactly what the claim described and found that both light and heavy weight training made calf muscles grow just as much, so it supports the claim.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.