People felt like they worked much harder during drop sets than during regular sets, even though they did fewer total sets.

Drop sets made guys feel more tired and their muscles puff up more after one workout, but they didn’t make them stronger in the long run than regular sets.

After one workout, guys who did drop sets were temporarily weaker than before, more so than those who did regular sets.

After just one workout, drop sets made muscles swell more and temporarily made guys weaker than before, while regular sets didn’t cause these changes.

Drop sets made muscles puff up more and felt harder, but didn’t make the body produce more lactic acid or raise the heart rate more than regular sets.

Doing drop sets (lifting heavy, then lighter weights without rest) builds strength just as well as doing regular sets with the same total weight, at least in young men who already lift weights.