Unbalanced Strength

[dobee.gillis]

I need some advice on balancing myself strengthwise. For biceps, my left arm is seriously weaker than my right... and when i do benchpress or dumbell press, my right side is weaker than my left...

I know the bench/dumbell press could be a matter of good form v. poor form but i'm asking anyway... does anyone have good pointers for correcting strength imbalance? especially in the arms...

thanks

[Uncle Ben]

Stick with dumbbells for the time being. If there is an imbalance, working with dumbbells will force the weaker side to catch up.

Bilateral moves can't compete with unilateral when it comes to fixing imbalances. If you stick with a barbell, the stronger side will always bail the weaker side out.

[ironwill2008]

How long have you been training?

[dobee.gillis]

Originally Posted by Uncle Ben

Stick with dumbbells for the time being. If there is an imbalance, working with dumbbells will force the weaker side to catch up.

Bilateral moves can't compete with unilateral when it comes to fixing imbalances. If you stick with a barbell, the stronger side will always bail the weaker side out.

Thanks...i feel like an idiot because i searched before i posted but didn't use 'balance' in my search so i could have saved you and others the trouble.

thank you big time for the advice though

[dobee.gillis]

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

How long have you been training?

i'm about 4 months into 'serious' weight training... i've always excersized but its mostly been calistenics and martial arts... i've dabbled with weights in the past but i've been weight training dedicated and consistently for the last 4-5 months...

[SaratogaKid]

use dbs and keep training. dont cheat though, i know i have a weaker left arm and i sometimes find myself wanting to do one less rep with the same weight in my right hand but force the left arm to do exactly the same thing and it will catch up, and if you can push out another rep or two to build it quicker

[dobee.gillis]

Originally Posted by SaratogaKid

use dbs and keep training. dont cheat though, i know i have a weaker left arm and i sometimes find myself wanting to do one less rep with the same weight in my right hand but force the left arm to do exactly the same thing and it will catch up, and if you can push out another rep or two to build it quicker

thanks alot! i noticed the problem a while ago... then yesterday while training at a new weight for db curls i noticed my right arm was good to go while my left was failing midway thru the second set... i just wondered if that wasn't too big a strength difference...

[ironwill2008]

Originally Posted by dobee.gillis

i'm about 4 months into 'serious' weight training... i've always excersized but its mostly been calistenics and martial arts... i've dabbled with weights in the past but i've been weight training dedicated and consistently for the last 4-5 months...

If you're relatively new to weight training, it's entirely normal to have strength/size imbalances. Just train; they'll sort themselves out in time.

As Ben posted, doing unilateral work with dumbbells will help the process. Just don't go overboard doing this, or you'll just create additional imbalance problems, as your body is forced to over-compensate.

FWIW, when I first started training, my entire body was an imbalance. You'll get past it, just as I did.

[dobee.gillis]

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

If you're relatively new to weight training, it's entirely normal to have strength/size imbalances. Just train; they'll sort themselves out in time.

As Ben posted, doing unilateral work with dumbbells will help the process. Just don't go overboard doing this, or you'll just create additional imbalance problems, as your body is forced to over-compensate.

FWIW, when I first started training, my entire body was an imbalance. You'll get past it, just as I did.

I appreciate your taking the time to give advice!! I look forward to getting past it!