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Analysis of institutional authors

Benito PjCorresponding AuthorCupeiro RAuthorRamos-Campo DjAuthorRubio-Arias JAuthor

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March 5, 2020
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Review

A systematic review with meta-analysis of the effect of resistance training on whole-body muscle growth in healthy adult males

Publicated to: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (4): E1285- - 2020-02-02 17(4), DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041285

Authors:

Benito, Pedro J; Cupeiro, Rocio; Ramos-Campo, Domingo J; Alcaraz, Pedro E; Rubio-Arias, Jacobo A
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Affiliations

Catholic Univ San Antonio, Dept Phys Act & Sports Sci, Fac Sports, Murcia 30107, Spain - Author
Catholic Univ San Antonio, UCAM Res Ctr High Performance Sport, Murcia 30107, Spain - Author
Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Fac Phys Act & Sport Sci, INEF, LFE Res Grp,Dept Hlth & Human Performance, E-28040 Madrid, Spain - Author
Universidad Católica de Murcia - Author
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Abstract

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study all published clinical trial interventions, determined the magnitude of whole-body hypertrophy in humans (healthy males) and observed the individual responsibility of each variable in muscle growth after resistance training (RT). Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from database inception until 10 May 2018 for original articles assessing the effects of RT on muscle size after interventions of more than 2 weeks of duration. Specifically, we obtain the variables fat-free mass (FMM), lean muscle mass (LMM) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). The effects on outcomes were expressed as mean differences (MD) and a random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regressions determined covariates (age, weight, height, durations in weeks…) to explore the moderate effect related to the participants and characteristics of training. One hundred and eleven studies (158 groups, 1927 participants) reported on the effects of RT for muscle mass. RT significantly increased muscle mass (FFM+LMM+SMM; Δ1.53 kg; 95% CI [1.30, 1.76], p < 0.001; I2 = 0%, p = 1.00). Considering the overall effects of the meta-regression, and taking into account the participants' characteristics, none of the studied covariates explained any effect on changes in muscle mass. Regarding the training characteristics, the only significant variable that explained the variance of the hypertrophy was the sets per workout, showing a significant negative interaction (MD; estimate: 1.85, 95% CI [1.45, 2.25], p < 0.001; moderator:-0.03 95% CI [−0.05, −0.001] p = 0.04). In conclusion, RT has a significant effect on the improvement of hypertrophy (~1.5 kg). The excessive sets per workout affects negatively the muscle mass gain.
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Keywords

fat-free masshypertrophylean muscle massresistance trainingAdultAmino-acid supplementationBeta-methylbutyrate supplementationCarbohydrate supplementationCreatine supplementationDouble-blindFat-free massHumansHypertrophyLean muscle massMaleMaximal lower-bodyMuscle strengthMuscle, skeletalMuscular strengthMyofibrillar protein-synthesisResistance trainingSkeletal muscle massSkeletal-muscleWhey-protein

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 68/203, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Public, Environmental & Occupational Health. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Pollution.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.66. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.52 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2026-04-27, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 46
  • Scopus: 42
  • Europe PMC: 3
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-27:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 280.

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 208.
  • The number of mentions on the social network Facebook: 4 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 148 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 12 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/86943/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 152
  • Downloads: 838
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (BENITO PEINADO, PEDRO JOSE) and Last Author (RUBIO ARIAS, JACOBO ANGEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been BENITO PEINADO, PEDRO JOSE.

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