Taking a bit more time to rest between weightlifting sets might help your arms and thighs grow a tiny bit more, but the difference is so small it might not even matter in real life.
Scientific Claim
Among healthy adults, inter-set rest intervals longer than 60 seconds may lead to slightly greater muscle hypertrophy in the arms and thighs compared to rest intervals of 60 seconds or less, but the effect is small (SMD ≈ 0.13–0.17) and uncertain, as confidence intervals include zero.
Original Statement
“Univariate and multivariate pairwise meta-analyses of controlled binary (short vs. longer) effect sizes showed similar results for the arm and thigh with central estimates tending to favor longer rest periods [arm: 0.13 (95%CrI: −0.27 to 0.51); thigh: 0.17 (95%CrI: −0.13 to 0.43)].”
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 design (systematic review of RCTs) supports probabilistic claims about effects. The language 'may lead to slightly greater' and inclusion of credible intervals crossing zero appropriately reflect uncertainty.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Give it a rest: a systematic review with Bayesian meta-analysis on the effect of inter-set rest interval duration on muscle hypertrophy
This study found that resting a bit longer between sets (more than a minute) might help your arms and thighs grow just a tiny bit more, but the difference is so small and uncertain that it might not matter in real life.