By Maria Cheng, AP Medical Editor

LONDON (AP) — No pain, no gain, as the old exercise adage goes. But how much pain do you have to endure to benefit from bodybuilding? It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, fitness experts say.

For years, some trainers have told gym-goers that to get the best results, they should train “to failure”—that is, until you physically can’t anymore. do a repetition or exercise. Some recent studies, however, suggest that this extreme diet, when applied to bodybuilding, may only benefit certain people.

“If someone wants to increase their muscle mass as much as possible, then training to failure is something to consider,” said Michael Zourdos, chair of exercise science and promotion. of Health at Florida Atlantic University, co-author of a review of 55 research studies. articles on the subject in the journal Sports Medicine.

Zourdos and his colleagues found that lifting weights “to failure” can build bigger muscles, but is not necessary to increase strength. He said people who train hard, but don’t push themselves to the point of exhaustion, will likely improve their health and fitness. “There’s a difference between training for health and training for elite performance,” he said.