Uneven strength... right and left arms.

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MumbaiStar
MumbaiStar Posts: 9
in Fitness and Exercise
I am a right-handed guy. and just started working out about a few weeks ago.. although i am pretty regular with my workout sessions i am facing a real tuffie here.

i have noticed time and again that my left arm has probably half the strength my right arm does... very visible when i hit my biceps or chest exercises or when i do bench presses... sometimes its soo evident that my left arm /elbow just wont bend while working on the biceps...

my worry is that this imbalance of strength will have varying results between my body... u know, right works out fine but left is kinda left out.. no pun intended...

Dunno if others have faced the same problem and what have they done about it..
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Replies

  • _Johanna_
    _Johanna_ Posts: 125 Member
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    I'm interested in any answers....but my problem is with leg strength...My right knee causes me problems, but when I do some strength training with my legs to help with my knee pain, I notice that my LEFT leg is much weaker than my right....
  • stephaniej05
    stephaniej05 Posts: 40
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    It's a pretty common thing.. Just train until your left arm fails you and make sure you are using the power rings as guides so the weight is evenly distributed.
  • beccala18
    beccala18 Posts: 293 Member
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    Try doing pushups with your hands staggered. It makes you work one side more than the other - this could help you build up strength on just one side.

    Also maybe try lifting hand weights with just that side...start lighter on that side and build up to where you are on the right side.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
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    Yep, your dominate hand/arm is always stronger.
  • lunamare
    lunamare Posts: 569 Member
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    I have the same problem, but from a traumatic injury to my right arm (my dominant arm). You can measure my biceps and my left is bigger then the right. It's nuts. What I do is to try to work to the limitation of the right arm and hopefully bring it up to the same level as my left eventually. I like using Hammer machines that allow me to move each arm indepent of the other or dumbells. It's very very frustrating so I feel for you. The best thing to do is just keep working at it. You might be tempted to work your right arm harder/heavier than the left but it will just make it more pronounced. Use lighter weights if you have to to get all of the reps in with your weaker arm. Good luck.
  • Creiche
    Creiche Posts: 264 Member
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    I've always had this issue...my left arm is a tad weaker than my right. As others have said, focus on finishing out sets with both arms...don't let the weaker arm get a "break" by doing less reps or less weight. When I bench press, sometimes I have to concentrate fully on my left arm because the bar will tilt a bit...but it always goes up (and I have a spotter there to make sure all goes well, which I also recommend).
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
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    If you are working with dumbbells, maybe let your left arm determine the number of reps that both arms do. If you curl x lbs. of weight for 6 reps (to failure), just do that much with your right arm (even though it won't be to failure with that arm). Eventually they will even out.
  • auntied
    auntied Posts: 113 Member
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    I have that too. BUT I'm just a woosie girl... BUT if I can do 20lb with both but can,t do 25 with left. I do more set on right side with the 20 till my left side can do the same then I move up to 25. Does that make since?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,707 Member
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    Part of the reason free weights are deemed better than machines is for this reason. For instance on many bench press machines, you can literally push the weight with just one arm. This doesn't help the weaker arm to get much stronger. With free weights you will see which body part is lagging in strength.
    Be consistent and keep at it. Eventually they'll become similar in strength. One arm or leg will always be stronger, but you can keep the difference to a minimum.
  • bgredenbaugh
    bgredenbaugh Posts: 65 Member
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    Sounds like you are working with free weights which is really smart. I'm totally lopsided, too.

    Perhaps try to train your dominate side for stamina, i.e. high reps, low weight, and then when you do your weaker side, try for strength, i.e. heavier weight/low reps - meaning you can only do a set of at most 5-8. Keep doing until your left side catches up a little.

    You can also try to do more daily activities with your weak side. Training is such a small percentage of what we all do each day. When you clean, use the opposite hand. When you carry groceries, use your left hand. Every bit will help!
  • kmcrey87
    kmcrey87 Posts: 422 Member
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    I was in a bad car accident three years ago and shattered my left humerus bone(I now have a titanium plate there) and tore a tendon in my right shoulder. So my right arm could handle more weight than my left and my left shoulder could handle more weight than my right. It took me almost a year to even it out, but with persistent training it righted itself.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
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    Oddly for me, being right handed, my right bicep is stronger, but my left tricep is far stronger!

    I think i know why too. 3 years of walking the dog, pulling him back, etc...always with my left arm...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,707 Member
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    Oddly for me, being right handed, my right bicep is stronger, but my left tricep is far stronger!

    I think i know why too. 3 years of walking the dog, pulling him back, etc...always with my left arm...
    Or the left hand is your porn hand.
  • MumbaiStar
    MumbaiStar Posts: 9
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    My trainer says never give ur weaker arm/side the advantage.. no weight difference.. no preferential treatment.. treat it the same way u wud treat ur dominant hand.. but he has also has advised some exercises to give the left side some strength...
  • Leviram
    Leviram Posts: 77
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    I have the opposite problem my left hand is stronger than my right for some odd reason and I am right handed. So do you work out the weaker arm?
  • MumbaiStar
    MumbaiStar Posts: 9
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    I have the opposite problem my left hand is stronger than my right for some odd reason and I am right handed. So do you work out the weaker arm?

    I work out both the arms equally...
  • killerqueen17
    killerqueen17 Posts: 536 Member
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    My left bicep is visibly bigger than my right, due to 4 years as a waitress-- I held the trays with my left arm, and they are quite heavy!!

    I haven't worked there in over a year, and my left is still bigger when I flex... I've never tried to even them out though, since it doesn't really bother me and it's not that noticeable... lol
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
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    If you are working with dumbbells, maybe let your left arm determine the number of reps that both arms do. If you curl x lbs. of weight for 6 reps (to failure), just do that much with your right arm (even though it won't be to failure with that arm). Eventually they will even out.

    thats what i did and although my right is a little stronger they are much closer now.
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
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    I am a right-handed guy. and just started working out about a few weeks ago.. although i am pretty regular with my workout sessions i am facing a real tuffie here.

    i have noticed time and again that my left arm has probably half the strength my right arm does... very visible when i hit my biceps or chest exercises or when i do bench presses... sometimes its soo evident that my left arm /elbow just wont bend while working on the biceps...

    my worry is that this imbalance of strength will have varying results between my body... u know, right works out fine but left is kinda left out.. no pun intended...

    Dunno if others have faced the same problem and what have they done about it..

    In addition to working your 'weaker' arm out with weights also consider using your non-dominate arm in every day use. It sounds crazy but I learned in my yoga classes that if you have a weaker arm consider using that 'weak' arm in things like reaching for a door to open. Every time we go through doors we have to pull open we're using our muscles. Although it might not take brute force to open the door, you are consistently working muscles in that arm you use all the time (dominate). You're right handed? Reach for opening doors, holding groceries, lifting objects with your left arm instead.

    Hope this helps, small every day adjustments as simple as those can help out in the long run.
  • MumbaiStar
    MumbaiStar Posts: 9
    Options
    I am a right-handed guy. and just started working out about a few weeks ago.. although i am pretty regular with my workout sessions i am facing a real tuffie here.

    i have noticed time and again that my left arm has probably half the strength my right arm does... very visible when i hit my biceps or chest exercises or when i do bench presses... sometimes its soo evident that my left arm /elbow just wont bend while working on the biceps...

    my worry is that this imbalance of strength will have varying results between my body... u know, right works out fine but left is kinda left out.. no pun intended...

    Dunno if others have faced the same problem and what have they done about it..

    In addition to working your 'weaker' arm out with weights also consider using your non-dominate arm in every day use. It sounds crazy but I learned in my yoga classes that if you have a weaker arm consider using that 'weak' arm in things like reaching for a door to open. Every time we go through doors we have to pull open we're using our muscles. Although it might not take brute force to open the door, you are consistently working muscles in that arm you use all the time (dominate). You're right handed? Reach for opening doors, holding groceries, lifting objects with your left arm instead.

    Hope this helps, small every day adjustments as simple as those can help out in the long run.

    thanks crystal.. your point actually makes sense.. the reason it is dominant is bcuz we use it everyday for everything... i'l give it a shot and see how it works... hopefully it strengthens....

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