Effects of Weekly Set Distribution on Volume Load, Lower-Body Strength, and Quadriceps Muscle Thickness in Trained Men.

Authors

Jader Calzavara, Renato Barroso

Published in

Journal of strength and conditioning research. Sep 08, 2026. Epub Sep 08, 2026.

Abstract

Calzavara, J and Barroso, R. Effects of weekly set distribution on volume load, lower-body strength, and quadriceps muscle thickness in trained men. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-This study compared volume load, maximal dynamic strength, and quadriceps muscle thickness after 2 weekly set-distribution models in trained men. Eighteen subjects completed 6 weeks of lower-body resistance training involving the Back Squat, Leg Press, and Leg Extension. Subjects were randomly allocated to RT1, which performed all weekly sets in 1 session, or RT3, which distributed the same number of sets across 3 sessions. Each exercise was performed for 3 weekly sets at 80% of pretest 1RM (1 repetition maximum) to concentric failure. RT3 achieved higher volume load than RT1 in the Back Squat (Δ% = 58%; p = 0.010) and Leg Press (Δ% = 76%; p = 0.013), with a similar trend in the Leg Extension that did not reach statistical significance (Δ% = 38%; p = 0.057). A significant main effect of time indicated that maximal dynamic strength increased across the intervention for all 1RM outcomes (all p < 0.001), with no significant group × time interactions. However, the group × time interactions approached, but did not reach, statistical significance for the Back Squat (p = 0.074) and Leg Press (p = 0.071), with larger pre-to-post changes in RT3, whereas no clear between-protocol pattern was observed for the Leg Extension (p = 0.535). Muscle thickness increased over time at the vastus lateralis and mid-thigh sites (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively), with no significant group × time interaction at either site (p = 0.215 and p = 0.987, respectively). These findings indicate that distributing weekly sets across 3 sessions can increase volume load without modifying other training variables. However, this higher volume-load response provided only directional support for greater maximal strength gains in RT3 and did not translate into superior muscle thickness gains over 6 weeks.

PMID:
42709978
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Sep 2026.

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