Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/a-2053-8426
Muscle Hypertrophy Responses to Changes in Training Volume: A Retrospective Analysis
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/202308/lookinside/thumbnails/9748_10-1055-a-2053-8426-1.jpg)
Abstract
This study assessed associations between changes in the weekly number of sets performed and the percentage change in muscle thickness of the biceps (MTBB) and triceps (MTTB) brachii muscles. Through a retrospective analysis, sixty-eight resistance-trained subjects that participated in previous studies had their previous training volumes analyzed and compared to the volume imposed during each individual study. The relationship between variables was determined through Spearman correlation and a k-cluster analysis was performed to subdivide the participants into three groups and classified as:<0%; 0–50%, and >50% increase in the number of sets for both muscle groups. Moderate and weak correlations were observed between the alterations in training volume and changes in MTBB (rs=0.44, p=0.001) and MTTB (rs=0.35, p=0.002), respectively. A significant difference was noted between<0% to >50% for MTBB and MTTB (p=0.017; p=0.042, respectively), while no significant difference was observed between<0% to 0–50% and 0–50% to >50% (both p >0.05) for both muscle groups. In conclusion, muscle hypertrophy of the upper limbs is only weakly to moderately associated with changes in training volume of trained subjects.
Publication History
Received: 28 September 2022
Accepted: 28 February 2023
Article published online:
09 May 2023
© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart,
Germany
-
References
- 1 Schoenfeld BJ. The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2857-2872
- 2 Phillips SM, Tipton KD, Ferrando AA. et al. Resistance training reduces the acute exercise-induced increase in muscle protein turnover. Am J Physiol 1999; 276: E118-E124
- 3 Brook MS, Wilkinson DJ, Mitchell WK. et al. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy adaptations predominate in the early stages of resistance exercise training, matching deuterium oxide-derived measures of muscle protein synthesis and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling. FASEB J 2015; 29: 4485-4496
- 4 Damas F, Angleri V, Phillips SM. et al. Myofibrillar protein synthesis and muscle hypertrophy individualized responses to systematically changing resistance training variables in trained young men. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 127: 806-815
- 5 Angleri V, Damas F, Phillips SM. et al. Resistance training variable manipulations are less relevant than intrinsic biology in affecting muscle fiber hypertrophy. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2022; 32: 821-832
- 6 Mobley CB, Haun CT, Roberson PA. et al. Biomarkers associated with low, moderate, and high vastus lateralis muscle hypertrophy following 12 weeks of resistance training. PLoS One 2018; 13: e0195203
- 7 ACMS. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 687-708
- 8 Figueiredo VC, de Salles BF, Trajano GS. Volume for muscle hypertrophy and health outcomes: the most effective variable in resistance training. Sports Med 2018; 48: 499-505
- 9 Nunes JP, Kassiano W, Costa BDV. et al. Equating resistance-training volume between programs focused on muscle hypertrophy. Sports Med 2021; 51: 1171-1178
- 10 Baz-Valle E, Fontes-Villalba M, Santos-Concejero J. Total number of sets as a training volume quantification method for muscle hypertrophy: A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 2021; 35: 870-878
- 11 Schoenfeld BJ, Contreras B, Krieger J. et al. Resistance training volume enhances muscle hypertrophy but not strength in trained men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019; 51: 94-103
- 12 Barcelos C, Damas F, Nóbrega SR. et al. High-frequency resistance training does not promote greater muscular adaptations compared to low frequencies in young untrained men. Eur J Sport Sci 2018; 18: 1077-1082
- 13 Brigatto FA, Lima LE, de M, Germano MD. et al. High resistance-training volume enhances muscle thickness in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 2022; 36: 22-30
- 14 Aube D, Wadhi T, Rauch J. et al. Progressive resistance training volume: effects on muscle thickness, mass, and strength adaptations in resistance-trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 2022; 36: 600-607
- 15 Scarpelli MC, Nóbrega SR, Santanielo N. et al. Muscle hypertrophy response is affected by previous resistance training volume in trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 2022; 36: 1153-1157
- 16 Harriss DJ, Jones C, MacSween A. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2022 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 43: 1065-1070
- 17 Benvenutti Bueno de Camargo J, Brigatto F, Zaroni R. et al. Does beta-alanine supplementation enhance adaptations to resistance training? A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Biol Sport 2023; 40: 217-222
- 18 Businari GB, Brigatto FA, de Camargo JBB. et al. Chronic effects of inter-set static stretching on morphofunctional outcomes in recreationally resistance-trained male and female. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2023
- 19 Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Haun C. et al. Calculating set-volume for the limb muscles with the performance of multi-joint exercises: Implications for resistance training prescription. Sports (Basel) 2019; 7: 177
- 20 Brigatto FA, Braz TV, Zanini TCC. et al. Effect of resistance training frequency on neuromuscular performance and muscle morphology after 8 weeks in trained men. J Strength Cond Res 2019; 33: 2104-2116
- 21 Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM. et al. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 3-13
- 22 Dankel SJ, Mouser JG, Mattocks KT. et al. The widespread misuse of effect sizes. J Sci Med Sport 2017; 20: 446-450
- 23 Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Dose-response relationship between weekly resistance training volume and increases in muscle mass: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci 2017; 35: 1073-1082
- 24 Damas F, Barcelos C, Nóbrega SR. et al. Individual muscle hypertrophy and strength responses to high vs. low resistance training frequencies. J Strength Cond Res 2019; 33: 897-901
- 25 Correa DA, Brigatto FA, Braz TV, de Camargo JBB, Aoki MS, Marchetti PHLCR. Twice-daily sessions result in a greater muscle strength and a similar muscle hypertrophy compared to once-daily session in resistance-trained men. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2022; 62: 324-336
- 26 Nóbrega SR, Scarpelli MC, Barcelos C. et al. Muscle hypertrophy is affected by volume load progression models. J Strength Cond Res 2023; 37: 62-67
- 27 Plotkin D, Coleman M, Van Every D. et al. Progressive overload without progressing load? The effects of load or repetition progression on muscular adaptations. PeerJ 2022; 10: e14142
- 28 Keefe G, Wright C. An intricate balance of muscle damage and protein synthesis: the key players in skeletal muscle hypertrophy following resistance training. J Physiol 2016; 594: 7157-7158
- 29 Damas F, Phillips SM, Libardi CA. et al. Resistance training-induced changes in integrated myofibrillar protein synthesis are related to hypertrophy only after attenuation of muscle damage. J Physiol 2016; 594: 5209-5222
- 30 de Camargo JBB, Brigatto F, Volpi Braz T. et al. Order of resistance training cycles to develop strength and muscle thickness in resistance-trained men: A pilot study. Int J Exerc Sci 2021; 14: 644-656