People who did more sets didn’t lift heavier weights—they just did more reps and sets. The weight stayed the same, but the total work went up.

Scientific Claim

Resistance training volume load increases significantly with progressive weekly set additions, but average training load per set remains unchanged across groups, indicating that volume differences are driven by set quantity, not intensity.

Original Statement

“There were no group differences in the average absolute load for session A (F2, 84 = 0.429, P = 0.652) and session B (F2, 84 = 0.639, P = 0.530). This similarity between groups suggests that differences in VOL were a result of 4SG and 6SG performing more sets, rather than one group using different loads.”

From study:Effects of Different Weekly Set Progressions on Muscular Adaptations in Trained Males: Is There a Dose–Response Effect?

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The statistical analysis of load across groups showed no significant differences (P > 0.5), and the conclusion is directly supported by the data. Definitive language is appropriate.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effects of Different Weekly Set Progressions on Muscular Adaptations in Trained Males: Is There a Dose–Response Effect?

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2024 Mar 1

The study found that doing more sets each week made people stronger, but they didn’t lift heavier weights per set—so the extra strength came from doing more sets, not lifting harder.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effects of Different Weekly Set Progressions on Muscular Adaptations in Trained Males: Is There a Dose–Response Effect?

Score: 52

DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003317

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