Circuit Training: The Most Efficient Way to Build Muscle and Strength?
Less time working out but similar gains
When it comes to building muscle or strength, circuit training is probably far from the first training method that comes to mind.
Generally, circuit training involves performing multiple different exercises with short rest periods between them.
One circuit round is when you finish performing all of your chosen exercises once. Individuals typically perform multiple circuit rounds in a workout.
The design of performing many exercises with minimal rest periods makes circuit training unsurprisingly attractive for those wishing to develop muscular endurance or expend a good amount of calories to aid fat loss.
For strength or muscle gain, the idea of resting minimally between multiple exercises may seem counterproductive, given longer rest intervals (2.5+ minutes) between sets may be best for adaptations.
Though, what may come as a surprise to some, the research has consistently demonstrated that circuit training can build muscle and strength effectively.
For example, a recent meta-analysis by Ramos-Campo et al. found that circuit training produced significant increases in strength and muscle growth measures.
