Comparison of Traditional and Advanced Resistance Training Paradigms on Muscle Hypertrophy in Trained Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Table 1
General description of the studies.
Study
ADV investigated and duration and frequency of the program
Muscle hypertrophy assessment
Main results for TRAD
Main results for ADV
Differences between protocols
Amirthalingam 2017
GVT. 6 weeks of training performed 3 days per week.
Lean mass through DEXA and MT through B-mode ultrasonography
↑3.1, ↑4.2, and ↑7.8% in total, trunk, and arm lean mass, respectively. No significant changes in MT.
↑1.9, ↑1.0, and ↑3.5% in total, trunk, and arm lean mass, respectively. No significant changes in MT.
No significant differences between GVT and TRAD
Angleri 2017
CP and DS. 10 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
ACSA through B-mode ultrasonography
↑7.6% in ACSA
↑7.5% and ↑7.8% in ACSA induced by CP and DS, respectively
No significant differences between CP, DS, and TRAD
Branderburg 2002
EO. The training was performed 2 days per week for the first 2 weeks and then 3 days per week for the remainder of the 9-week training period.
ACSA through magnetic resonance imaging
No significant changes
No significant changes
No significant differences between EO and TRAD
Enes 2021
DS and RP. 8 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
MT through B-mode ultrasonography
↑14.2 and ↑6.5% in the proximal thigh and middle thigh MT, respectively. No significant changes in distal thigh MT.
↑11.6 and ↑7.7% in the proximal thigh and middle thigh MT, respectively, for DS. ↑8.8 and ↑5.1% in the proximal thigh and middle thigh MT for RP. No significant changes in distal MT for both groups.
No significant differences between DS, RP, and TRAD
Fisher 2014
PE. 12 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
Lean mass through air displacement plethysmography
No significant changes
No significant changes
No significant differences between PE and TRAD
Fisher 2016 A
SS and EO. 10 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
Lean mass through air displacement plethysmography
No significant changes
No significant changes
No significant differences between SS, EO, and TRAD
Fisher 2016 B
DS and HDS. 12 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
Lean mass through air displacement plethysmography
No significant changes
No significant changes
No significant differences between DS, HDS, and TRAD
Hackett 2018
GVT. 12 weeks of training performed 3 days per week.
Lean mass through DEXA
No significant changes
No significant changes
No significant differences between GVT and TRAD
Prestes 2019
RP. 6 weeks of training performed 4 days per week.
MT through B-mode ultrasonography
No significant changes
↑11% in thigh MT
↑ in thigh MT was greater for RP
Walker 2016
EO. 10 weeks of training performed 2 days per week.
MT through B-mode ultrasonography and lean mass through DEXA
↑11 and ↑16% in vastus lateralis and medialis MT, respectively. No significant changes in lean mass.
↑13 and ↑11% in vastus lateralis and medialis MT, respectively. No significant changes in lean mass.
No significant differences between EO and TRAD
The table shows resistance training programs investigated, muscle hypertrophy assessments, and main results. GVT: German volume training; MT: muscle thickness; DEXA: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; CP: crescent pyramid; DS: drop-set; ACSA: anatomical cross-sectional area; EO: eccentric overload; RP: rest-pause; PE: pre-exhaustion; SS: super slow; HDS: heavy DS; = data not used in calculation of standardized mean difference due to incomplete report; ↑ = increase.
