When you lift light weights until you can't go on or until you slow down, your muscles swell and your blood gets more acidic in the same way — meaning your body reacts similarly to both methods.

Scientific Claim

Low-load resistance training to volitional failure and to velocity fatigue produce similar acute muscle swelling and blood lactate responses when work volume is matched, indicating comparable metabolic stress under these conditions.

Original Statement

“Responses to RT were similar between LVoF and LVeF, whether looking at acute muscle swelling, increase in blood lactate, chronic hypertrophy, and strength gain”

From study:Low-Load Resistance Training to Volitional Failure Induces Muscle Hypertrophy Similar to Volume-Matched, Velocity Fatigue

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

probability

Can suggest probability/likelihood

Assessment Explanation

RCT design allows causal interpretation, but without full statistical details, probabilistic language is prudent. The abstract’s 'similar' is appropriately reflected.

More Accurate Statement

“Low-load resistance training to volitional failure and to velocity fatigue likely produce similar acute muscle swelling and blood lactate responses when work volume is matched.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Low-Load Resistance Training to Volitional Failure Induces Muscle Hypertrophy Similar to Volume-Matched, Velocity Fatigue

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2022 Jun 1

When people lift light weights until they can't do another rep or until their speed drops too much, their muscles swell and lactic acid builds up the same amount—if they do the same total amount of work. So both ways of training stress the muscles similarly in the short term.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Low-Load Resistance Training to Volitional Failure Induces Muscle Hypertrophy Similar to Volume-Matched, Velocity Fatigue

Score: 41

DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003690

Similar Assertions

Lifting light weights until you can't do another rep builds muscle just as well as lifting light weights until your speed slows down a lot, as long as you do the same total amount of work.

82%

Whether you lift light weights with lots of reps or heavy weights with few reps—so long as you push until you can’t do another rep—you’ll build muscle about the same amount.

77%

When people lift weights until they can't do another rep, their muscles grow about the same amount whether they use heavy or light weights — and how much they grow depends more on their own body than on how heavy the weights are.

77%

Whether you lift heavy weights for fewer reps or light weights for more reps—as long as you push until you can’t do another rep—your muscles grow about the same amount.

77%

Using light weights until you're exhausted or slow builds your muscle stamina better than heavy weights, but doesn't make you as strong as lifting heavy weights.

76%