When you use momentum (like swinging or cheating) to do exercises, you lift about twice as much total weight—but that extra work doesn't seem to make your muscles grow bigger than doing the exercise slowly and strictly.

54

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

54

Community contributions welcome

54

Do Cheaters Prosper? Effect of Externally Supplied Momentum During Resistance Training on Measures of Upper Body Muscle Hypertrophy

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2025

The study compared people doing arm exercises with strict form versus using momentum (swinging). Those using momentum lifted more total weight (more volume), but both groups gained the same amount of muscle. This proves the claim that extra volume from momentum doesn't create extra muscle growth.

Contradicting (0)

0

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No contradicting evidence found

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

Do Cheaters Prosper? Effect of Externally Supplied Momentum During Resistance Training on Measures of Upper Body Muscle Hypertrophy

Score: 54

DOI: 10.70252/gdbl2230

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