Volume Landmarks: MEV, MAV, and MRV

Brief explanation of training volume zones and optimal set ranges

Updated January 16, 20251 min read

Volume landmarks help you understand optimal training volume for each muscle group. These zones guide workout generation and help prevent overtraining.

The Three Landmarks

MEV (Minimum Effective Volume) - The minimum sets per week needed to see growth. Below this threshold, you're maintaining but not progressing.

MAV (Maximum Adaptive Volume) - The optimal range for growth. Training between MEV and MAV provides the best results with manageable recovery demands.

MRV (Maximum Recoverable Volume) - The maximum sets per week you can recover from. Exceeding MRV leads to overtraining, fatigue, and decreased performance.

How They're Used

During workout generation, the app shows volume status for each muscle group:

  • Below Maintenance (red) - Not enough volume to maintain current strength
  • Maintenance (orange) - Between maintenance and MEV
  • Growing (green) - MEV to MAV range (optimal for progress)
  • Optimal (blue) - MAV to MRV range (high volume, still recoverable)
  • Exceeds MRV (red) - Too much volume, risk of overtraining

The app calculates these landmarks based on your training history and adjusts recommendations to keep you in the productive range (MEV-MAV) while avoiding overtraining (above MRV).

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