Iron Culture presented by MASS Ep 342 - New Data: Does Growth Really Drive Strength Gains?
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Aug 27, 2025 Explore the intriguing relationship between muscle growth and strength gains in this insightful discussion. The hosts dive into groundbreaking research revealing that bigger muscles don’t always mean greater strength. They also dissect the complexities of sex differences in training outcomes, shedding light on how men and women experience gains similarly, albeit differently. The importance of nuanced statistical analysis in exercise science is emphasized, alongside light-hearted anecdotes from personal experiences and community events in the fitness world.
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Massive FAMUSS Study Changes The Game
- The FAMUSS study is a massive, multi-site resistance training trial collecting data since 2002 with over 1,200 participants.
- Its scale and MRI measures provide unusually strong evidence on size–strength relationships in untrained adults.
Within-Subject Design Strengthens Causal Claims
- Dewart et al. studied 1,233 untrained adults (18–40) doing 12 weeks of unilateral arm training with MRI and strength tests.
- The design used the untrained arm as a within-subject control, improving causal interpretation.
Men Grew More; Women Gained More Relative Strength
- Men in the study gained more arm volume (14% vs 10%) while women showed larger relative strength increases (1RM ~61% vs ~40%).
- These opposing patterns mirror prior meta-analytic findings but require deeper explanation.