Short-term effects of bench press training on muscle hypertrophy and strength in untrained males

While resistance training is known for long-term strength and hypertrophy, the early-phase adaptations in untrained individuals remain a subject of debate. This study investigated a four-week bench press program to challenge the traditional view that initial gains are exclusively neural, examining how quickly morphological changes occur in the pectoralis and triceps. By tracking these short-term responses, the research clarifies the relationship between regional muscle growth and strength development during the very first weeks of training.