Last updated:

25 July 2023

Ever wondered why my programs push you through a variety of different rep ranges? Here’s the science on high reps and low reps!

should you do high reps or low reps to build muscle

Reading time:

7 min read

When I was a young lifter I was advised to stay away from high reps.

“The golden zone for muscle growth is 8-12 reps per set,” they said.

My girlfriend was told the opposite. She was instructed that ladies need to do high rep work, as this would tone their muscles and avoid a big, bulky appearance.

You know what?

It was all bullshit.

It turns out high reps are just as effective as low reps when it comes to building muscle. Furthermore, the key to unlocking the absolute best results is not to choose between the two different styles, but rather to use them both, because they each offer unique additional benefits which play an important role in helping you to build your best body.

Check it out below.


Table of Contents

Why Do We Believe This?

should i do high reps or low reps

The old belief that lifting heavy weights for low reps is the only way to build muscle has taken on a life of its own throughout the years, but it all stems from a piece of missing information.

You see, if you were to ask ten “experts” what the goal of each rep range is, I guarantee nine of them would tell you the following:

  • 1-5 reps is for strength
  • 8-12 reps is for hypertrophy (muscle growth)
  • 15+ reps is for muscular endurance

So what would the one in ten expert say?

Well, this expert would give you a more complete picture. You see, each rep range has more than one benefit. That means the information above is not necessarily wrong, it’s just missing some crucial information, and it could change the way you train forever:

  • 1-5 reps is for strength and neuromuscular development
  • 8-12 reps is for hypertrophy and strength
  • 15+ reps is for muscular endurance and hypertrophy

What The Studies Say

high reps vs low reps to build muscle

When I was a young lifter I wouldn’t have even entertained the idea that lighter weights and higher reps could possibly build muscle.

I was wrong on this.

The first study to provoke interest in this topic arrived in 2010 from researchers at McMaster University, Canada. The team were looking at the neurological differences between having a group of trainees go to failure (the point of being unable to perform another good rep) with a heavy weight for 4-5 reps, and with a light weight for 20-25 reps, when they noticed something interesting…

… at the end of the trial, the high rep group had increased muscle protein synthesis (the anabolic response to training) a whopping 60% more than the other group! (1)

should i do high reps or low reps

About a year later, a second study from the same university replicated the results. (2)

Holy flaps!

Eyebrows were raised at this point, because until these findings, high rep training had never really been explored on a muscle building front, and the old belief that they were just for “toning up” was still considered true in most gyms.

However, the caveat to these early studies is that they weren’t giving us a true comparison between high reps vs low reps. That’s because using a weight which causes failure at 4-5 reps is more typically associated with gaining strength (as explained above), so if we really want to see how effective high rep work can be for hypertrophy, we must conduct a study comparing it to going to failure in the classic 8-12 rep range.

Thankfully, that study arrived the following year. (3)

In a detailed analysis published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, researchers from the same university had one group of trainees performing sets with a weight which caused failure at 8-12 reps, and another group of trainees using a weight which caused failure at 20-30 reps.

Amazingly, this resulted in a near identical spike in muscle protein synthesis, and by the end of the trial both the low rep trainees and the high rep trainees has increased muscle mass by 7%.

This is the study which quite literally changed the game.

can you build muscle with high reps and light weights

What About Women?

should women do high reps and light weights to tone up

Women have long been advised that they need to train differently to men in order avoid, well, looking like men.

That old belief is absolute horse shit.

I can categorically state right now that any women reading this have absolutely nothing to fear by venturing into lower reps and heavier weights, and there is no need for you to train any differently to a man – you will NOT end up looking like Rambo.

There are two reasons why…

First, because if it was that easy to look like Rambo then every guy in your local gym would look like Rambo, and they most certainly do not. Interestingly, Stallone was one of the pioneers of high rep training, so you’re possibly already training like Rambo right now.

Second, the body of a human female produces significantly less testosterone than the body of a human male. Testosterone is the key player in the muscle building process (that’s why guys inject it), meaning it’s actually HARDER for women to build muscle than it is for men. That’s right, ladies, if you’ve ever felt frustrated that your husband or partner seemed to find results easier to come by, you were not going crazy, it actually is easier for men! (4)

I hope that allays any fears you may have had about lifting heavy. I felt like I needed to include this section, because unfortunately the fitness world is still behind the times when it comes to educating women on how to train properly.


Using Both For Maximum Results

high reps vs low reps

Now that we know high reps are just as effective as low reps for building muscle, it gives you some interesting options going forward.

If you’ve used any of my most popular training programs, you’ll know that I often combine the two alongside each other.

I do this because they complement each other nicely, each bringing a unique set of benefits to the table while simultaneously helping you to carve a leaner, more defined physique.

can you build muscle with high reps

As you can see in the graph above, low rep work typically yields more strength gains as a secondary benefit, and high rep work generally leads to improvements in muscular endurance.

Here’s where the magic happens:

For guys who stay exclusively in the 8-12 rep range, their quest to build muscle hinges entirely on achieving progressive overload (increasing the weight they lift), but eventually they reach a ceiling in terms of how heavy they can go, which causes progress to stagnate, and injuries begin to rack up as years of heavy lifting takes its toll.

(I’m sure you can name a few guys like this at your local gym!)

Now, if we could introduce a high rep phase to their training, it would enable them to continue building new muscle, while also serving as an opportunity to give their joints and central nervous system a well-deserved break from heavy training. It would also increase their ability to push through “the burn”, which could help them go heavier when they return to low rep work.

That’s why I recommend following a well-structured training program which uses periodization to incorporate both types of training. This would help the trainee to unlock continuous results, while keeping them as injury-free as possible! (5)

I hope you’ve found this guide on high reps vs low reps useful. If you’re looking for a program which does all of the above, check your Members Area for my Train To Success program now.

References:

  1. Burd N. A., et al. Low-Load High Volume Resistance Exercise Stimulates Muscle Protein Synthesis More Than High-Load Low Volume Resistance Exercise In Young Men. PLoS ONE (2010).
  2. Burd N. A., et al. Enhanced Amino Acid Sensitivity Of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Persists For Up To 24 Hours After Resistance Exercise In Young Men. J Nutr (2011).
  3. Mitchell C. J., et al. Resistance exercise load does not determine training-mediated hypertrophic gains in young men. J Appl Physiol (2012).
  4. Handelsman D. J., et al. Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance. Endocr Rev (2018).
  5. Rhea M. R., et al. A meta-analysis of periodized versus nonperiodized strength and power training programs. Res Q Exerc Sport (2004).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Training Programs

russ howe pti programs
russ howe pti

Unlock all training programs and nutrition plans by becoming a member, then build your best body with Russ’ work!

Click here to learn more.

Ads Keep The Site Low Cost

Latest Articles

  • How To Get In Photoshoot Shape In 2 Months

    Here’s a quick and easy-to-follow nutrition plan which will whip your body into photoshoot shape in just 8 weeks.

    Click Here To Read


  • The Rules To Ripped

    Follow these 10 rules to melt away body fat and build an awesome new body.

    Click Here To Read


  • How The Undertaker Trained For His Best Physique

    Take a look at the workout routine which got The Deadman ripped.

    Click Here To Read


  • How To Make Your Own Pre Workout Supplement

    Want to learn how to make your own pre workout at home?

    Click Here To Read


  • Adapt Nutrition Pre Train X Review

    Adapt Nutrition have produced one of the best pre-workouts of the year in Pre Train X. Here’s the official review.

    Click Here To Read


  • How To Use Periodization For Better Results

    Use periodization to build more muscle, burn more fat, and gain more strength!

    Click Here To Read


  • How Much Volume Do You Need For Muscle Growth?

    Learn how to explode your results by hitting each muscle group with the correct amount of volume.

    Click Here To Read


  • Did You Spot These 4 RussHowePTI.com Easter Eggs?

    There are several little Easter eggs built into RussHowePTI.com which most readers never notice.

    Click Here To Read


  • Why Arnold Is Still The Best Bodybuilder

    Many people are hailing Chris Bumstead as the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Here’s my take on why Arnold is still #1.

    Click Here To Read


  • The 9 Biggest Myths About Creatine

    There are many myths surrounding creatine and it’s potential side effects. This article addresses them one by one.

    Click Here To Read


  • Here’s Why Eating Fat Won’t Make You Fat

    Many people remain confused about dietary fat after it was demonized back in 1980s. Here are the facts.

    Click Here To Read


  • Eat More Protein For Muscle Growth

    Here’s the lowdown on the daily protein requirements of athletes.

    Click Here To Read