Research
Cellular
Resistance training performed to failure (RTF) showed a greater increase in muscle hypertrophy than resistance training not to failure (RTNF) with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.75 (p = 0.005).
Practitioners may consider incorporating training to failure for enhanced muscle hypertrophy.
StrongSupportsmedium confidence
Resistance training performed to failure showed a greater increase in muscle hypertrophy than RTNF (SMD: 0.75; p = 0.005).
Why this rating
Based on systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 studies.
Source
Effects of Resistance Training Performed to Failure or Not to Failure on Muscle Strength, Hypertrophy, and Power Output: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis
Alexandra Vieira et al. · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · 2021
DOI 10.1519/jsc.0000000000003936
Meta-analysisCited 94×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- No difference was found between RTF and RTNF on maximal strength in overall analysis (SMD: -0.08; p = 0.642).Strong
- Resistance training not to failure (RTNF) may induce comparable or even greater improvements in maximal dynamic strength and power output compared to resistance training performed to failure (RTF) when considering nonequalized volumes.Strong
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