Training volume increases or maintenance based on previous volume: the effects on muscular adaptations in trained males

This study investigated the effects of increasing previous resistance training (RT) weekly set volume by 30% (G30) and 60% (G60) on muscle hypertrophy and strength. Fifty-five resistance-trained men were randomly allocated to the experimental groups, whereas 29 completed the study, as follows: control group (CON): <i>n</i> = 10, G30: <i>n</i> = 10, and G60: <i>n</i> = 9. Participants underwent a lower body RT program twice a week for 8 wk. We assessed pre- and poststudy thigh region-of-interest fat-free mass (ROI-FFM), anterior thigh muscle thickness (MT) at two sites: proximal (PMT) and distal (DMT) and their sum (ΣMT), one-repetition maximum (1RM), and strength-endurance via repetitions to failure (RTF) at 70% of 1RM. ROI-FFM and MT demonstrated a significant increase from pre- to posttraining (main time effect, <i>P</i> < 0.001) (ΔΣMT CON: 1.07 cm, G30: 0.76 cm, and G60: 0.70 cm; ΔROI-FFM CON: 1.57 kg, G30: 0.47 kg, and G60: 1.55 kg). All groups increased back squat 1RM (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). However, the main group effect (<i>P</i> < 0.0268) indicated that the CON group showcased a greater overall 1RM (174.7 kg), than the G30 (159.0 kg) and G60 (149.0 kg). Only the G30 group increased RTF at the posttest (CON: 0.13 reps, G30: 5.45 reps, and G60: -0.41 reps) (<i>P</i> < 0.0263). Our findings suggest that trained males can experience significant muscle growth and strength adaptations while maintaining their previous weekly set number above a certain weekly set volume threshold.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> Increasing previous resistance training volume by 30% (G30), 60% (G60), or maintenance (CON) on muscular adaptations in trained individuals. Interestingly, CON group resulted in the greatest overall 1RM strength, whereas G30 showed the highest increase in repetitions to failure, with no differences between groups in muscle mass size. These findings suggest that more is not always better for muscle adaptations in a trained cohort, highlighting muscle growth across a wide range of weekly set numbers.