People who swing the weights while doing arm exercises can lift a lot more total weight over time than those who do it slowly and strictly—even though both groups end up with the same size arms.
Scientific Claim
When untrained individuals perform biceps curls and triceps pushdowns with external momentum, they achieve approximately 70% greater weekly volume load compared to strict form, suggesting momentum allows for higher total mechanical work despite similar hypertrophic outcomes.
Original Statement
“Total volume load increased for both conditions over the 8-week program, with CHEAT demonstrating greater increases in weekly volume (70.9% [95%CrI: 53.6 to 88.4]) compared to STRICT (35.7% [95%CrI: 18.3 to 53.0]).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
The study directly measured and reported volume load differences with credible intervals. The probabilistic verb 'demonstrating greater increases' appropriately reflects the data without overclaiming causality.
More Accurate Statement
“When untrained individuals perform biceps curls and triceps pushdowns with external momentum, they are likely to achieve approximately 70% greater weekly volume load compared to strict form, suggesting momentum allows for higher total mechanical work despite similar hypertrophic outcomes.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Do Cheaters Prosper? Effect of Externally Supplied Momentum During Resistance Training on Measures of Upper Body Muscle Hypertrophy
People who cheated on their curls and pushdowns by swinging the weights lifted more total weight each week than those who did it slowly and strictly—but both groups ended up with the same size muscles.