Am I injured?

mynameishere1727

Hello everyone. I have started going to the gym since September of 2023. Everything is going relatively fine, except my tricep exercises.

I cannot even do tricep extensions with 3-5kg with my right arm, while I do these with extreme ease with my left arm.

I have no pain in my right tricep, it just feels weak. It feels dead, not there.

I have noticed this difference in other exercises like incline bench press, my right arm always is at a different pace.

Is this an injury? Is this normal?

TL;DR
The tricep in my right arm is extremely weak, can't even do 3kg tricep extensions. No pain. Feels as if the tricep is dead.

Retroguy2000

If you aren't feeling any pain or numbness, and you've never been injured there, then I would assume it's a case of poor form or simply that one arm is stronger than the other.

If it's weak form, obviously correct that form or try different exercises. If it's a weaker side, you can do unilateral exercises starting with the weaker side first, then do the stronger side to the same weight/reps as the weaker side manages. The weaker side should catch up.

You can try one arm cable pushdowns, one arm French press (overhead extension), or a two handed variation is a lying flat dumbbell skullcrusher with the same weight db in one hand, and your weaker side will dictate when you stop.

AnnPT77

Having had a mysteriously weak result on certain exercises before that turned out to be nerve impingement, I'd strongly recommend being evaluated by a doctor. Not all problems cause pain.

Retroguy2000

You had impingement without pain or numbness?

nossmf

Sometimes the twist of your wrist can have a HUGE impact on apparent triceps strength. If I do pushdowns with wrists flat to the ground, I can use only a fraction of the weight I use when I do the same pushdowns with my wrists twisted at a 45 degree angle.

AnnPT77

Retroguy2000 wrote: »

You had impingement without pain or numbness?

Yes. In certain exercises - dumbbell pullovers was one - I couldn't even hold onto the weight, not even a light weight. It didn't hurt, at least not significantly; I just dropped the weight. I got referred for physical therapy, which helped.