February 2020 PMID 31188644

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men - Less is More?

Matheus Barbalho, Victor Silveira Coswig, James Steele, James P Fisher, Jurgen Giessing, Paulo Gentil

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Mentions

65
Peak: 25 in Jun 2019
across 8 sources since Jun 2019

Extended reach

187,693
potential audience

Total likes

79

Video views

293

Mentions per month

Jun 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter34 posts
  • Facebook12 posts
  • Reddit5 posts
  • TikTok4 posts
  • News4 articles
  • Instagram3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a positive reception of the findings, citing specific results such as the 5-10 sets being most effective, with some posts questioning the validity of earlier research, especially due to the retraction of related studies. The tone varies from supportive to cautious, illustrating a nuanced engagement with the research’s significance in shaping training practices.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most posters agree that the study presents evidence supporting a ceiling effect, emphasizing that more training volume does not necessarily lead to better results.

InterestModerate interest

There is moderate interest, especially in the context of retracted studies and changing perspectives within the fitness community.

EngagementModerate engagement

Some discussions reference specific findings, like the impact of 5-10 sets versus higher volume, indicating a somewhat deep engagement with the research details.

ImpactHigh impact

Posts highlight the potential influence on workout routines and training strategies, suggesting significant implications for how athletes or trainers might adapt their approaches.

Abstract in brief

  • The study found that performing 5 or 10 sets per week leads to similar improvements in muscle strength and size in trained men, while higher volumes (15 or 20 sets) do not provide additional benefits.
  • All groups showed significant gains in strength and muscle size over 24 weeks, but increasing training volume beyond 10 sets did not significantly improve these results.
  • The findings suggest a ceiling effect in training volume, indicating that doing more than 10 sets per week may not be necessary for optimal muscle gains, aligning with an inverted U-shaped response curve.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Physio Meets Science
@PhysioMeScience · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?

Jun 13, 2019 · 24 likes · 9 shares · 92,806 followers View post →
Jozo Grgic
@Jozo_Grgic · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? https://t.co/lhmw4g1S1C

Jun 12, 2019 · 23 likes · 7 shares · 5,479 followers View post →
Int'l Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
@IJSPPjournal · X

#Top3 most viewed abstracts from @IJSPPjournal @Human_Kinetics September 2020 1. https://t.co/B7ljPd7MK9 2. https://t.co/KQ3v1IW7SY 3. https://t.co/32zLN6ZlCd https://t.co/XjPQj0dJIW

Oct 5, 2020 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 5,918 followers View post →
Karageorgos
@Karageorgos15 · X

@GodKbsJets60 @DrHorwitz Recent support: "..the 5 or 10 set group achieved most muscle growth in every site + gained most strength on every exercise. Going up to 15 sets reduced gains across board + 20 set group made worst progress of all groups" https://t.co/JuGp4TYpPz Full: https://t.co/X73SKfcbWL

Jun 17, 2019 · 3 likes · 611 followers View post →
Nick Krontiris
@nick_krontiris · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? https://t.co/HqdOAnj2Aq #exercise #fitness #fit #FitFam #FitLife #Workout #TrainHard #GymLife #GymTime #muscle #strength #lift #GetStrong #hypertrophy #gainz

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 19,469 followers View post →
Scotty Butcher PhD
@TheStrengthJedi · X

Ceiling effect on frequency for gains in strength https://t.co/BzIVT41GIv

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 2,063 followers View post →

All mentions

Andrew Sheaff
@AndrewKSheaff · X

More on when less is more. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. How do we know the difference? https://t.co/HbU3HSyVgd @VictorCoswig

Jul 28, 2021 · 2,652 followers View post →
scite Reference Check
@sciterefcheck · X

We've detected a paper from PeerJ that cites a retracted paper post-retraction. Citing paper: https://t.co/tDvgK6lHEH Retracted paper: https://t.co/w8pUIvVtU9

May 22, 2021 · 532 followers View post →
Mason Ross
@MasonRHayes · X

Take, for example, this video from @JeffNippard on workout volume, in which he cites the study “Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men — Less is More?” by Barbalho et al. 2019. https://t.co/QkkDbgdei1

Mar 18, 2021 · 146 followers View post →
Bhopender Thakur
@TheBhupiThakur · X

RT @nick_krontiris: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? htt…

Mar 3, 2021 · 2 shares · 1,362 followers View post →
Karim Chamari
@ProfChamari · X

RT @IJSPPjournal: #Top3 most viewed abstracts from @IJSPPjournal @Human_Kinetics September 2020 1. https://t.co/B7ljPd7MK9 2. https://t.co…

Oct 5, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,778 followers View post →
Inigo Mujika (En)
@inigomujika_en · X

RT @IJSPPjournal: #Top3 most viewed abstracts from @IJSPPjournal @Human_Kinetics September 2020 1. https://t.co/B7ljPd7MK9 2. https://t.co…

Oct 5, 2020 · 2 shares · 17,617 followers View post →
Int'l Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
@IJSPPjournal · X

#Top3 most viewed abstracts from @IJSPPjournal @Human_Kinetics September 2020 1. https://t.co/B7ljPd7MK9 2. https://t.co/KQ3v1IW7SY 3. https://t.co/32zLN6ZlCd https://t.co/XjPQj0dJIW

Oct 5, 2020 · 14 likes · 2 shares · 5,918 followers View post →
Riccardo Rambo
@RiccardoRambo · X

@Jhonny_Diaz_ @MSSEonline Olá @Jhonny_Diaz_ ! O artigo já retratado não foi esse? Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men - Less is More? (Int J Sports Physiol)

Sep 29, 2020 · 1 like · 652 followers View post →
OJSN
@iamojsn · X

Barbalho氏らが行った研究にデータの改ざん、偽装の可能性が。 この辺とか普通に読んでたやつ。 https://t.co/wdumklFsNe https://t.co/37iFI9Kqxd

Jul 21, 2020 · 1 like · 14,934 followers View post →
Brandon Heavey
@baheavey · X

Interesting... the lower training volume study cited above has now been retracted...

Apr 28, 2020 · 185 followers View post →
Karageorgos
@Karageorgos15 · X

@GodKbsJets60 @DrHorwitz Recent support: "..the 5 or 10 set group achieved most muscle growth in every site + gained most strength on every exercise. Going up to 15 sets reduced gains across board + 20 set group made worst progress of all groups" https://t.co/JuGp4TYpPz Full: https://t.co/X73SKfcbWL

Jun 17, 2019 · 3 likes · 611 followers View post →
3MAP Lab
@3maplab · X

InkedProfScotty on Twitter: "Ceiling effect on frequency for gains in strength https://t.co/3m7sNlfXB9" https://t.co/Mz0By3PmdB

Jun 14, 2019 · 1 like · 690 followers View post →
HowToHacker
@How2Hacker · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? https://t.co/oqfyDM61Oh

Jun 14, 2019 · 196 followers View post →
David Lee
@superskree · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 106 followers View post →
Scotty Butcher PhD
@TheStrengthJedi · X

Ceiling effect on frequency for gains in strength https://t.co/BzIVT41GIv

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 2,063 followers View post →
Mosiah Araújo Silva
@MosiahAraujo · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 69 followers View post →
Fernando Catanho
@ocatanho · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 258 followers View post →
con H de heterótrofo
@NutriRebel · X

RT @DanielBerglind: Exercise volume and muscle hypertrophy: an U-shaped association? https://t.co/9zQkooGNp7

Jun 13, 2019 · 1 share · 5,946 followers View post →
EskeleThor
@EskeleThor · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 405 followers View post →
Lorenzo S.Wayne
@LorenzoSWayne · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 51 followers View post →
Abdulaziz
@MzhaAl · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 581 followers View post →
Samuel Briggs-Price
@SBP_Physio · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 229 followers View post →
Luis
@RoCo1796 · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 316 followers View post →
Paul Bliton
@PaulBliton · X

RT @PhysioMeScience: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 9 shares · 1,654 followers View post →
Physio Meets Science
@PhysioMeScience · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?

Jun 13, 2019 · 24 likes · 9 shares · 92,806 followers View post →
EskeleThor
@EskeleThor · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 405 followers View post →
Joaquín San José
@jsanjosea · X

RT @nick_krontiris: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? htt…

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 shares · 408 followers View post →
Daniel Berglind, PhD
@DanielBerglind · X

Exercise volume and muscle hypertrophy: an U-shaped association? https://t.co/9zQkooGNp7

Jun 13, 2019 · 1 like · 1 share · 7,875 followers View post →
Ariel Nascimento PT
@Ariel_nasc · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 177 followers View post →
Alexandre Langis
@AlexandreLangis · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 88 followers View post →
Carlos Alix
@CarlosAlixFages · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 628 followers View post →
Sandro F. da Silva
@sandrofersilva · X

RT @Jozo_Grgic: Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?…

Jun 13, 2019 · 7 shares · 551 followers View post →
Nick Krontiris
@nick_krontiris · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? https://t.co/HqdOAnj2Aq #exercise #fitness #fit #FitFam #FitLife #Workout #TrainHard #GymLife #GymTime #muscle #strength #lift #GetStrong #hypertrophy #gainz

Jun 13, 2019 · 2 likes · 2 shares · 19,469 followers View post →
James Steele
@jamessteeleii.bsky.social · Bluesky

Great to be involved in this study following up from the work last year in trained women all led by Paulo Gentil's lab. Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More?

Jun 13, 2019 View post →
Jozo Grgic
@Jozo_Grgic · X

Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men – Less is More? https://t.co/lhmw4g1S1C

Jun 12, 2019 · 23 likes · 7 shares · 5,479 followers View post →
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doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0914. https://www.researchgate. net/publication/333739746_Evidence_of_a_Ceilin g_Effect_for_Training_Volume_in_Muscle_Hypertr ...

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DOK: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0914 'Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Trained Men ~ Less is More?

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Evidence of a Ceiling Effect for Training Volume in Muscle ...
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doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0914. Epub 2019 Jun 12. Retraction in: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2020 Jun 3;15(6):914. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.

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