Left vs Right

chrisso802016
chrisso802016 Posts: 26 Member
edited November 30 in Fitness and Exercise
So, I havent been to the Gym since maybe high school.

I've been doing 2 weeks now of upper body, and am going really really light. Just trying to retrain these "muscles" of the motions.

In doing so, I have found that my left arm is ridiculously weaker than my right. I broke my left arm when I was in high school, and have always protected it, so my right arm has always been my dominate appendage.

I can bang out the same weight crazy easy with my right arm, and struggle with my left. My left arm is having a work out and my right is not. Which is funny because my left arm is bulking from the workout, and my right arm is still nerdy.

Anyone else experience this? I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing, and wait till my left arm gets caught up with the same weight, that way I can balance everything out, with equal amounts of struggle.

Just curious. I doubt I've got an issue, but if someone on here says I should have something looked at, I'll certainly consider it.

Replies

  • FasterHStronger
    FasterHStronger Posts: 1 Member
    Everyone's asymmetrical and it's really noticeable when you're first starting - I had the same thing.
    If you keep pushing yourself, you'll find your weaker side will start to "catch up" and the difference will be much less noticeable! I wouldn't use different weights / exercise to try to get it to catch up faster - just needs some time!
  • drwilseyjr
    drwilseyjr Posts: 225 Member
    I just posted a good fix for this in another thread. As was mentioned, everyone's got a dominant arm, for the most part. A good way to help even out the strength is to do alternating sets. Let me explain using dumbbell curls.

    Begin one set on your weaker arm. Do that set until failure. Now, switch to your stronger arm. Do the same amount of reps you did with your weaker arm and stop. You can continue this practice until you notice the weaker arm catching up. Once you've evened out, you can continue doing normal sets.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    Yep, in ballet they wanted us balanced, ideally no good side. If your left is weaker, we'd do L R L, L R L, so that your left gets more training, until they are balanced. In some sports it doesn't matter, I was watching tennis on the TV and those guys looked like fiddler crabs, one big arm and one smaller one.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    drwilseyjr wrote: »
    I just posted a good fix for this in another thread. As was mentioned, everyone's got a dominant arm, for the most part. A good way to help even out the strength is to do alternating sets. Let me explain using dumbbell curls.

    Begin one set on your weaker arm. Do that set until failure. Now, switch to your stronger arm. Do the same amount of reps you did with your weaker arm and stop. You can continue this practice until you notice the weaker arm catching up. Once you've evened out, you can continue doing normal sets.

    Yes.

    Even after 4 years of lifting my left arm is still weaker so it'll probably never fully even out, but it'll get a lot closer.
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    It's funny as I've noticed the same problem with my left arm being weaker. I started doing extra reps this week on that side. 5 for every 10 I do with both.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    are you just doing upper body and no lower?

    I would suggest getting on a structured program that works your whole body...
  • chrisso802016
    chrisso802016 Posts: 26 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    are you just doing upper body and no lower?

    I would suggest getting on a structured program that works your whole body...

    Just started doing legs this week as well. I have HUGE leg muscles so I wasnt real worried about bringing them in, just needed the right time. Was a little concerned because of the cardio I've been hitting, but it seems to be fine.

    I've submitted all my details to the Gym, and the owner/trainer will be getting with me either this week or next for a structured program.
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