Whether you lift light weights or heavy weights until you can’t do another rep, your muscle fibers don’t seem to grow significantly more with one than the other — but we can’t be sure because the results are too uncertain.

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Supporting (1)

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The Effects of Low-Load Vs. High-Load Resistance Training on Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy: A Meta-Analysis

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

2020 Aug

This study found that lifting light weights and heavy weights to exhaustion both build muscle in the thighs about the same, but the results are so mixed that either could be better—we just don’t know for sure yet.

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No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The Effects of Low-Load Vs. High-Load Resistance Training on Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy: A Meta-Analysis

Score: 39

DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2020-0013

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