The Claim
Following resistance training, the lateral gastrocnemius muscle exhibits greater hypertrophy (13.7% increase) compared to the medial gastrocnemius (8.9% increase) and soleus (7.8% increase), regardless of loading protocol, indicating intrinsic differences in muscle-specific growth potential within the triceps surae.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
When people do strength training, the outer calf muscle grows more than the inner calf muscles, no matter how they lift weights. This shows that some muscles naturally grow faster than others.
See the scientific wording
The lateral gastrocnemius demonstrates greater hypertrophy (13.7% increase) than both medial gastrocnemius (8.9%) and soleus (7.8%) following resistance training, regardless of loading protocol, suggesting intrinsic muscle-specific growth potential differences within the triceps surae.
What the research says
1 studyThe study found that the outer calf muscle grew more than the inner calf muscles after exercise, no matter if people lifted heavy or light weights, which matches the claim exactly.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.