Upper Body Muscle Imbalance

Persephone7676

I have noticed that my right arm is considerably larger than my left. In fact I have a LOT more strength in my right arm. I was curious if there was a weight lifting strategy to correct this sort of thing?

teddabod

Are you lifting right now? Try doing left arm first, get the reps out and then only do that many reps for the right arm with whatever part your targeting.

davidsun1988

Get a second opinion from a friend/family member. Unless you're considerably visibly out of balance, you may want to just continue focusing on strength and mass gains. People tend to overemphasize their own imperfections, and you're just going to slow yourself down by trying to limit the use of your right side.

Outside of the gym, try to use your left more -- carrying bags, luggage, opening doors, etc.

Cyclink

Have you measured to see what the size and strength differences actually are and what is your current program like (assuming you have one)?

krhn

I have minute visual imbalances but more so the strength...
I'm right handed but somehow my left is stronger xD

Persephone7676

I am lifting now, I've been lifting heavier on my left than the right to see if that would help. It's a measurable difference. It's extremely difficult to measure your own bicep but I can also tell my hand will go further around my left than vice versa. My training plan has been to do more strength training and less cardio. I really don't have the time to spend hours doing cycling (though I would love to) and my running I keep to a couple to three miles per time. I've already increased the protein level in my diet to help gain some muscle. I have lost a little weight but size wise I've lost a fair amount which I am very pleased with.

GiddyupTim

I play tennis, a game where you use one arm to the exclusion of the other. I find that as long as I use my left the same when I work out, it evens out pretty quickly. Actually, I think it might be counterproductive to obsess about this difference and consciously try to correct it. Just lift normally, with free weights, and it will naturally even out.
People who injure one arm or one leg often have some atrophy in that limb when they recover, especially if it is casted or something like that. But, it evens out fast.
Moreover, everyone is a little different on each side. I remember hearing of a study in which they looked at differences in quadriceps strength, and they found that even soccer players -- who run, run, run, using both legs pretty equally -- had a difference in strength of about 25 percent between their legs.