Whether you lift weights using a pyramid, go to failure, or stick to a standard routine, if you do the same total amount of work, your leg strength improves by about the same amount—around 25%—after 12 weeks.

Scientific Claim

In well-trained men, 12 weeks of crescent pyramid, drop-set, or traditional resistance training with equalized volume results in equivalent gains in leg press one-repetition maximum strength, with average increases of approximately 25% across all methods, demonstrating that strength gains are not enhanced by specialized protocols when volume is matched.

Original Statement

“All protocols showed significant and similar increases in leg press (TRAD = 25.9%; CP = 25.9%; DS = 24.9%).”

From study:Crescent pyramid and drop-set systems do not promote greater strength gains, muscle hypertrophy, and changes on muscle architecture compared with traditional resistance training in well-trained men

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

The RCT design with randomization and control allows definitive causal claims. The near-identical effect sizes and lack of statistical difference support the use of definitive language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Crescent pyramid and drop-set systems do not promote greater strength gains, muscle hypertrophy, and changes on muscle architecture compared with traditional resistance training in well-trained men

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2017 Feb

When trained guys did three different kinds of leg workouts with the same total effort, they all got about 25% stronger—no method was better than the others.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Crescent pyramid and drop-set systems do not promote greater strength gains, muscle hypertrophy, and changes on muscle architecture compared with traditional resistance training in well-trained men

Score: 54

DOI: 10.1007/s00421-016-3529-1

Similar Assertions

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