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Back to Study: Effect of Resistance Training to Muscle Failure vs...
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Analysis v1
Strong Opposition

When untrained men lift weights until they can't do any more reps, they get more tired over time compared to stopping earlier, meaning their muscles wear out faster.

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Pro
54
Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

0

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No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

54

Community contributions welcome

54

Effect of Resistance Training to Muscle Failure vs. Volitional Interruption at High- and Low-Intensities on Muscle Mass and Strength

Randomized Controlled Trial
Human
2018 Jan

The study looked at muscle failure training and stopping early in untrained men and found both methods worked about the same for building muscle and strength, so it doesn't support the idea that muscle failure causes more fatigue.

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Effect of Resistance Training to Muscle Failure vs. Volitional Interruption at High- and Low-Intensities on Muscle Mass and Strength

Score: 54
DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000001787

Similar Assertions

For beginners, stopping resistance exercises just before your muscles give out works just as well as pushing to complete failure for building muscle strength and size, whether you're lifting heavy or light weights.

54
0
87%

If you lift weights until you literally can't do another rep, you'll feel more tired right after than if you stop a couple reps before failure — even if you're someone who regularly lifts weights.

54
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84%

Lifting weights until you're tired, whether with light or heavy weights, makes your muscles bigger and stronger in the same way for beginners.

46
0
82%

If you train with weights that change resistance throughout the movement (like using bands or machines that adjust), you can do more reps and lift more total weight before getting tired than if you use the same weight the whole time — and after 20 weeks, this difference is pretty big.

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80%

If you lift weights until you can’t do another rep versus stopping before failure—while doing the same total amount of work—you’ll feel more tired and more worn out during the workout, especially if you’re a regular gym-goer.

54
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79%