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Strength TrainingEvidence & Dosage

Hypertrophy, sarcopenia prevention, volume vs intensity.

Studies last updated

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
1,000
With abstract
49
Meta / Systematic / RCT
169
Highly cited
10
Publication years
1990–2026

Strength Training in the context of Methods

This topic is part of our "Methods" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.

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Top studies on Strength Training

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Effects of Mediterranean diet, exercise, and their combination on body composition and liver outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

    BMC Med2025n=37meta61 influential citations

    BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle interventions like the Mediterranean diet (MD) and exercise are recommended for management,…

    Finding: In adults with MASLD or MASH, the Mediterranean diet significantly reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and ALT compared with control.

  2. The Effect of Aerobic or Resistance Exercise Combined With a Low-Calorie Diet Versus Diet Alone on Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    Nutr Rev2026n=97Meta-Analysis50 influential citations

    <h4>Context</h4>Individual studies examining the combined effects of exercise and a low-calorie diet on cardiometabolic factors have yielded inconsistent results.<h4>Objective</h4>In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized…

  3. Comparative Effectiveness of Exercise and Protein-Based Interventions on Muscle Strength, Mass, and Function in Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

    J Nutr Health Aging2025n=7,596Meta-Analysis39 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Exercise, protein supplementation, and their combination are guideline-recommended strategies for managing sarcopenia. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of various types of voluntary and simulated exercise on…

    Finding: High-certainty evidence supports RBT + Nu as the most effective intervention for improving muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical function in individuals with sarcopenia.

  4. Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease.

    Cochrane Database Syst Rev2013n=170Meta-Analysis36 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Strength training or aerobic exercise programmes might optimise muscle and cardiorespiratory function and prevent additional disuse atrophy and deconditioning in people with a muscle disease. This is an update of a…

  5. Optimal resistance training prescriptions to improve muscle strength, physical function, and muscle mass in older adults diagnosed with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    Aging Clin Exp Res2025n=951Meta-Analysis28 influential citations

    <h4>Background and objectives</h4>Resistance training is widely recommended for managing sarcopenia, but evidence on optimal prescriptions remains limited. This study aimed to assess the effects of different resistance training…

    Finding: Resistance training did not significantly improve short physical performance battery, appendicular skeletal muscle mass index, or appendicular skeletal muscle mass.

  6. Exercise and nutrition strategies for sarcopenia in older adults: evidence from a network meta-analysis based on EWGSOP and AWGS criteria.

    Front Nutr2025n=2,331Systematic Review27 influential citations

    <h4>Objectives</h4>This network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of different exercise and nutritional interventions on muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, and physical function in older adults with…

  7. Enhancing Muscle Quality: Exploring Leucine and Whey Protein in Sarcopenic Individuals.

    J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle2025systematic24 influential citations

    BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is characterised by a decline in the skeletal muscle mass with increasing age. This poses many challenges to the health and independence of older individuals. New and emerging studies have focused on supplementing…

  8. Treadmill training with partial body weight support and physiotherapy in stroke patients: a preliminary comparison.

    European journal of neurology2002n=1020 influential citations

    Treadmill training with partial body weight support can restore the gait ability of chronic non-ambulatory hemiparetic subjects. A combination of physiotherapy and treadmill training may accelerate the rate of recovery. Therefore a…

  9. Soy protein based supplementation supports metabolic effects of resistance training in previously untrained middle aged males.

    The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male2011B17 influential citations

    To determine changes in body composition, physical performance, metabolic and hormonal parameters induced by lifestyle counselling, resistance training and resistance training with soy protein based supplemention in middle aged males.…

  10. Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease.

    Cochrane Database Syst Rev2010n=121Meta-Analysis15 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Strength training or aerobic exercise programmes might optimise muscle and cardiorespiratory function and prevent additional disuse atrophy and deconditioning in people with a muscle disease.<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine…

Frequently asked

What does the evidence say about Strength Training?
In adults with MASLD or MASH, the Mediterranean diet significantly reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and ALT compared with control.
What dosage was studied?
• Mediterranean diet, exercise (aerobic, resistance, combined aerobic-resistance/HIIT), or their combination (Varied by included trial; not standardized in the review) • Aerobic or resistance exercise combined with a low-calorie diet (Exercise programs varied; benefits mainly seen with supervised, high-intensity programs, particularly cycling) • Various voluntary and simulated exercise interventions, including resistance and balance training combined with protein-based nutritional supplementation
Which population does the evidence apply to?
Most studies investigated: unknown.
Are there safety considerations for Strength Training?
• No adverse events were reported in the excerpt. • Not reported in the abstract. • No adverse events were reported in all trials. • Moderate-intensity training appeared to do no harm in the studied diseases.

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