Hypertrophic response of lower extremity muscles to different resistance training intensities : a meta-analysis and meta-regression

Eyi̇pinar, Cemre Didem (author), Buzdagli, Yusuf (author), Karayigit, Raci (author)

This study evaluates the effectiveness of different resistance training intensities (high, moderate, and low) on quadriceps femoris muscle hypertrophy in healthy adults. A literature search was conducted in January 2023 using multiple databases, including Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Embase, and PubMed. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the TESTEX scale. A total of 22 studies with 519 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Statistical analysis, performed using ReviewManager 5.2, showed that all resistance training intensities led to hypertrophy in the quadriceps femoris muscle compared to control or pre-test values. High-intensity training resulted in a muscle thickness increase of 2.3 mm (95% CI: 2.21-2.38), moderate-intensity training led to an increase of 1.88 mm (95% CI: 1.74-2.02), and low-intensity training showed an increase of 10.92 mm (95% CI: 10.77-11.08), all with p<.001. Meta-regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between training intensity and hypertrophy in the vastus intermedius (β=0.01, p=0.05, R$^²$=0.56) and vastus lateralis (β=0.01, p=0.007, R$^²$=0.34). However, no significant effect was found for the rectus femoris (β=0.03, p=0.417, R$^²$=0.04) or vastus medialis (β=0.003, p=0.895, R$^²$=0.002). In conclusion, resistance training at different intensities promotes hypertrophy across all quadriceps muscles, with variations depending on the specific muscle group. Meta-regression suggests that every 10% increase in training intensity corresponds to a 0.1 mm increase in vastus intermedius hypertrophy. No significant effect of training intensity was observed for the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, or rectus femoris muscles.

• Language: English
• Keywords: muscle hypertrophy, quadriceps femoris, knee extensors, muscle thickness
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 85-109
• Numbering: Vol. 31, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180535
• UDC: 796.01
• ISSN on article: 1318-2269
• DOI: 10.52165/kinsi.31.2.85-109
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254971139
• Publication date in RUL: 11.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Kinesiologia Slovenica. scientific journal on sport
• Shortened title: Kinesiol. Slov.
• Publisher: Fakulteta za šport, Inštitut za kineziologijo, Fakulteta za šport, Inštitut za kineziologijo, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1318-2269
• COBISS.SI-ID: 30681856

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Hipertrofični odgovor mišic spodnjih okončin na različne intenzitete treninga za moč : metaanaliza in metaregresija

Abstract

Ta študija ocenjuje učinkovitost različnih intenzitet vadbe za moč (visoka, zmerna in nizka) na hipertrofijo mišične skupine kvadriceps femoris pri zdravih odraslih. Iskanje literature je bilo izvedeno januarja 2023 z uporabo več podatkovnih baz, vključno z Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Embase in PubMed. Metodološka kakovost študij je bila ocenjena s pomočjo lestvice TESTEX. V to metaanalizo je bilo vključenih skupno 22 študij s 519 udeleženci. Statistična analiza, izvedena z uporabo programa ReviewManager 5.2, je pokazala, da so vse intenzitete vadbe za moč povzročile hipertrofijo mišice kvadriceps femoris v primerjavi s kontrolnimi ali predtestnimi vrednostmi. Visoko-intenzivni trening je povzročil povečanje debeline mišice za 2,3 mm (95% CI: 2,21–2,38), zmerno-intenzivni trening je privedel do povečanja za 1,88 mm (95CI: 1,74–2,02), nizko-intenzivni trening pa je pokazal povečanje za 10,92 mm (95 % CI: 10,77–11,08), vse s p<.001. Metaregresijska analiza je pokazala pomembno povezavo med intenziteto treninga in hipertrofijo mišice vastus intermedius (β=0,01, p=0,05, R$^²$ = 0,56) ter vastus lateralis (β = 0,01, p = 0,007, R$^²$ = 0,34). Vendar pa ni bilo ugotovljenega pomembnega vpliva na mišici rectus femoris (β=0,03, p=0,417, R$^²$=0,04) in vastus medialis (β=0,003, p=0,895, R$^²$=0,002). Zaključno lahko rečemo, da vadba za moč pri različnih intenzitetah spodbuja hipertrofijo vseh mišic kvadriceps, pri čemer obstajajo razlike glede na posamezno mišično skupino. Metaregresijska analiza nakazuje, da vsakih 10 % povečanja intenzitete vadbe ustreza 0,1 mm povečanju hipertrofije mišice vastus intermedius. Vendar pa ni bilo ugotovljenega pomembnega vpliva intenzitete vadbe na mišice vastus lateralis, vastus medialis in rectus femoris.

• Keywords: šport, mišična hipertrofija, kvadriceps femoris, iztegovalke kolena, debelina mišice