Single arm/leg exercises vs double

[ClappyTrappy]

I'm just wondering what the difference is when you do a certain exercise using one arm/leg at a time compared to doing both arms/legs.

For example: one leg at a time on the leg press as opposed to double, single arm rows with dumbbell instead of double arms with barbell, single arm bicep curl with dumbbell instead of double arms with barbell, etc.

I'm talking about with the same amount of resistance, so if you're pressing 80kg with two legs, then 40kg with one leg. Does it help with muscle isolation? Does it work your stabilisers more? Or is it simply no different and just personal preference?

[Partyrocking]

The most obvious differences are that bilaterally, you can move more weight, and unilaterally, the weaker limb cannot rely on the stronger limb to compensate.

If you have one side that you know is weaker, you may want to add in some unilateral exercises help.

I recently took all of my unilateral leg exercises out because I don't need them. I had them because they were the rage, bilateral deficit and all that jazz, but they just make my workout take longer and I'm using less weight, ya no thanks. I haven't noticed one leg being weaker than the other.

[magician27]

I'm talking about with the same amount of resistance, so if you're pressing 80kg with two legs, then 40kg with one leg.

dont think you can press 40 with one leg if you are pressing 80 with both , usually that math doesnt workout that straight forward, probably other muscles are getting involved. one sided exercises good for fixing imbalance , maybe adding a bit more range of motion for pulling exercises , and involves obliques a bit. i would try to go with whichever allows you to lift heavier

[louistan100046]

In a perfect world, with enough weight to train the movement I want, training with 2 limbs is better. However, in some cases, being more focused on calisthenics movement, the weight does not provide enough resistance, so I have to resort to 1-limb training (1-armed pushup, 1-legged squat, archer pullup, 1-arm, 1-leg plank). I find that it always requires more than 2x strength due to the balance required.