The Claim

In untrained young men, performing one set or three sets of pec deck resistance training three times per week for 12 weeks results in similar increases in pectoralis major clavicular and sternocostal muscle thickness, with approximately 17–21% hypertrophy observed in both groups, indicating that higher training volume may not be required to achieve regional chest muscle growth in resistance training beginners.

Source: Pectoralis Clavicular and Sternocostal Thicknesses Increase Similarly in Response to One and Three Sets of Pec Deck Resistance Training in Untrained Young Men

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
25score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

If you're new to working out, doing just one set of chest machine exercises three times a week gives about the same muscle growth as doing three sets — both lead to around a 20% bigger chest muscle after 12 weeks.

See the scientific wording

In untrained young men, performing one set or three sets of pec deck resistance training three times per week for 12 weeks leads to similar increases in pectoralis major clavicular and sternocostal muscle thickness, with approximately 17–21% growth observed across both conditions, suggesting that higher training volume may not be necessary for regional chest muscle hypertrophy in beginners.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Pectoralis Clavicular and Sternocostal Thicknesses Increase Similarly in Response to One and Three Sets of Pec Deck Resistance Training in Untrained Young Men

    The study found that doing one set or three sets of chest machine exercises gave untrained young men similar chest muscle growth after 12 weeks, just like the claim says.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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