When older women try to push with both legs at once on a leg press or pull with both arms on a lat machine, they’re weaker than when using each side separately—but this doesn’t happen when they extend their knees.

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Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

The effect of unilateral and bilateral strength training on the bilateral deficit and lean tissue mass in post-menopausal women

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2006 Jun

The study found that when women push or pull with both sides at once, they’re weaker than expected in some exercises (like leg press and lat pull-down) but not in others (like knee extension), meaning the weakness doesn’t happen in every movement.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The effect of unilateral and bilateral strength training on the bilateral deficit and lean tissue mass in post-menopausal women

Score: 47

DOI: 10.1007/s00421-006-0165-1

Similar Assertions

When older women train by pushing or pulling with both arms or legs at the same time, they get better at using both sides together, making their strength more efficient.

79%

Training one arm or leg at a time helps older women build muscle just as well as training both at once—but it doesn’t help them use both sides together any better.

72%

Training one leg at a time makes it harder for both legs to work together at full power, while training both legs together makes them work better together — the way you train changes how your legs coordinate.

72%