Muscle Imbalance

leblanc · 10-04-2009, 12:08 AM

Just wondering if any of you folks have any muscle imbalance issues. In my case I find it easier to notice when I'm doing single armed exercises. In my case, my left arm has always been bigger and stronger (curls, rows, etc) then my right. I've been lifting now with fairly regular consistency for over eight years but it seems that this difference cannot be overcome. I've always seemed to cater to the weaker side to try to maintain balance. For instance, whatever my right arm could do for X amount of reps would be the amount I'd do with my left even though I could push out a couple more reps with my left without much of a problem. I guess my question is if any of you find yourself in a similar predicament, and if you are/did, do you believe that this is natural and not likely to change or is it something which can be overcome, and if so, how. Thanks.

skinnybastard28 · 10-04-2009, 12:28 AM

i have the same problem. my left bicep is way weaker than my right. i guess if ur doing something like curls dont do more on one arm than the other.

Antz1980 · 10-04-2009, 02:40 AM

My left was weaker, but a little more effort and concentration to that side is all it takes

EDIT: MMC, man......

BFJ · 10-04-2009, 12:17 PM

ya you may be talking about a combination of an asymmetry (L to R imbalance) and muscular imbalance (between opposing muscle groups) that is somewhat asymmetrical. if it's simply just a matter or one bicep is stronger than the other type thing i would say that can balance out with training (although my experience has been this often results in the stronger arms varying back and forth over time). if it's that you're weaker on one side in more multi-jointed muscles i suspect there may be some influence from a muscular/flexibility imbalance. try to really pick things apart and see if you can tease out what that may be or maybe consider getting evaluated. again, whether of not you want/need to go through that is kind of up to you. often the muscular/flexibility imbalances do seem to make one more prone to injury although that's not well accepted as dogma or anything. good luck and train hard.

Ironbrah · 10-04-2009, 12:26 PM

if ur left handed try to do everything with right hand... ie writing, picking stuff... this would activate CNS more.

BFJ · 10-04-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironbrah

if ur left handed try to do everything with right hand... ie writing, picking stuff... this would activate CNS more.

ya when i used to do a lot of carpentry i refused to let my dominant arms for hammering get bigger so i would switch hands when driving nails. got just as good with both hands and avoided the noticeable difference in muscle size seen in most carpenters that regularly drive nails with only one arm.

leblanc · 10-04-2009, 08:22 PM

I'm right handed if that helps so I already use my right arm most of the time for everyday activities.
The only compound lift I notice the descrepancy is on dumbell rows. I can usually do an extra rep or two with my left arm. With single armed curls I can usually do at least two or more reps with my left arm.
I been training both arms in the same rep range for years now but it doesn't seem to have changed the imbalance to a great extent.
Maybe I'm making a big deal over a few reps but I was just curious to know if there was something different I could do to bring up the lesser arm so it would be on par with the other in both size and strength. Thanks for the replies.

gbrs5 · 10-04-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironbrah

if ur left handed try to do everything with right hand... ie writing, picking stuff... this would activate CNS more.

lol writing? I don't know about that.

Anyways, I'm left handed for writing, but right handed for just about everything else (i.e. throwing...etc.). There's not too much imbalance in my arms, although I do think my left is slightly weaker. But it's not noticeable at all. My imbalance is in my traps. My right trap is much bigger than my left (even though they're both small

). I think it might have something to do playing baseball...I used to play baseball a lot and pitched most of the time. Not sure though.

Jrahe42 · 10-04-2009, 09:49 PM

i have the weaker left bicep syndrom as well hah it sucks its like .75 inches smaller