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.

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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.

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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

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