Table 1 Overview of the intervention studies assessing drop sets and the effect upon muscle hypertrophy
From: Effects of Drop Sets on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Reference | Sample (N) | Sex | Training status | Duration (weeks) | Exercise prescription | Training frequency | Condition | Hypertrophy measurement | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ozaki et al. [17] | 9 (within-subject design) | Men | Untrained | 8 | Dumbbell curls | 2–3 times a week | HL: s, 3; I, 80%; r, to CF; p, 3 min LL: s, 3; I, 30%; r, to CF; p, 90 s DS: s, 1; I, 80–65–50–40–30%; r, to CF | MRI | Both groups significantly increased CSA, but there was no time × group effect |
Fink et al. [16] | 16 | Men | Active | 6 | Triceps push-down | Twice a week | Trad: s, 3; r, 12 to CF; I, 12 RM; p, 90 s DS: s, 1; r, 12; I, 12 RM to CF, 3 drops at 20% each | MRI | Both groups significantly increased CSA, but there was no time × group effect |
Fisher et al. [29] | 41 | Both | Resistance trained | 12 | Chest press, leg press, pull-down | Twice a week | Trad: s, 1; r, 8–12 to CF DS: s, 1; r, 8–12 to CF, 1 drop at 30% HLDS: s, 1; r, 4 to CF, 2 drops at 20% each | Bod Pod | No significant changes in body composition were found in either of the groups |
Angleri et al. [14] | 32 (within-subject design) | Men | Resistance trained | 12 | Leg press, leg extension | Twice a week | Trad: s, 3–5; r, 6–12 to CF; I, 75%; p, 2 min CP: s, 3–5; r, 6–15 to CF; I, 65–85%; p, 2 min DS: s, 3–5; r, to CF; I, 50–75%, 1–2 drops at 20%; p, 2 min | Ultrasound | Both groups significantly increased CSA, but there was no time × group effect |
Varović et al. [18] | 16 (within-subject design) | Men | Recreationally active | 8 | Unilateral leg extension | 1–3 times a week | Trad: r, to CF; I, 15 RM; p, 120 s DS: r, to CF; I, 5 RM, 1 drop at 20%, 1 drop at 10–15% | Ultrasound | Both Trad and DS significantly increased muscle thickness in VL and RF. In RF at 30% and 50% muscle length, there was also a time × group effect favoring DS |
Enes et al. [15] | 28 | Men | Resistance trained | 8 | Back squat, leg press, leg extension | Twice a week | DS: s, 3; r, 10 + 6; I, 75 + 55%; r, 120 intersets RP: s, 3; r, 10 + 6; I, 75%; p, 20 s intrasets, 120 s interset Trad: s, 4; r, 12; I, 70%; p, 120 s interset | Ultrasound | Both Trad and DS significantly increased muscle thickness in the proximal and middle VL, but not in the distal part. There was no time × group effect |