Does Range of Motion Really Predict Gains?

Max had always heard that the more he stretched his arms and legs, the better his muscles would grow. His friends told him, “You need to go all the way down or up for your muscles to grow!” But one day, he noticed something strange. His friend Jake, who only did half-reps, still seemed to get bigger muscles than Max, even though Max was always stretching as far as he could. Max was confused. “Is range of motion really the key?” he asked his coach. The coach smiled and said, “It’s not just about going all the way up or down. What really matters is how much tension you put on your muscles, and how often you do it.” Max learned that full range of motion doesn’t always equal better gains. Sometimes, partial movements with more tension on the muscles are better for growth. He realized that he didn’t need to focus too much on how far his arms went, but instead how well he was working his muscles during each rep. Max felt relieved and proud that he didn’t have to overthink every movement. He focused on doing his reps with control, and over time, he saw his muscles grow stronger and bigger!