What do you do when...

[Boingo1]

you have uneven strength in one arm for certain exercises.

For instance this morning with concentrated bicep curls, i could do my right side, 8 reps , with 17.5 lbs. With my left I could NOT squeek out #7.

Do you change weight for the weaker arm?

or maybe I should have "assisted" to make it up all the way?

I'm

 

[mrsmel]

You have two choices:

1. Assist the weaker arm to finish out the reps at the higher weight
2. Lower the weight, but do more reps than the stronger side.

I would go with #1 since my goal would be to get the weaker side up to the same level as the stronger side. I might even do one or two less reps on the stronger side until the weaker side catches up. It'll take time, but you'll get there!

anne

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi -
ITA w/ Anne, but have you considered switching up which arm you do first as well?

For example, if I just did barbell curls and then my next exercise is alternating dumbbell curls, I woud work the strong arm first so that the weaker arm gets more rest before I work it. Make sense?

HTH, Lynn M.

 

[jnka825]

Hi -
ITA w/ Anne, but have you considered switching up which arm you do first as well?

For example, if I just did barbell curls and then my next exercise is alternating dumbbell curls, I woud work the strong arm first so that the weaker arm gets more rest before I work it. Make sense?

HTH, Lynn M.

I agree with this tactic and did it myself. I have a 10 month old baby and I guess from constantly carrying him on my right-side (I am lefthanded) my right arm is stronger. I work out the right arm first, to allow more rest time for the weaker arm, and I even paired down the weight for the right arm until the left arm caught up. Now they are pretty even as far as bicep curls, but I still feel I hold my baby longer on the right side.

 

[Boingo1]

VERY good advice! Thank you! I didn't think of starting with the stronger arm (i started with the weaker!).

And it's strange, because I'm also left handed, but my right arm (bicep anyways) is stronger! And I haven't carried around a baby in years!

 

[Miss Lee]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent here . What I've been doing for STS is working my weaker side with the heavier weight for as many reps as I can, and then decreasing the weight to finish the set. I've had to do this especially for triceps and shoulder exercises where my left side is quite a bit weaker than my right. After 1 month I was able to complete all of the reps with the same weight for things like side lateral raises on the ball and over the body triceps extensions. Sometimes it's just really hard to assist, and I feel like I get more out of it if I lower the weight and let the muscle do the work.

 

[mrsmel]

Geez, Michele, you just have to be difficult, don't you? Advice from someone who's actually done it instead of from someone just theorizing? Which would you choose?

I'm teasing you, of course, glad you chimed in!

anne

 

[maddiesmum]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent here . What I've been doing for STS is working my weaker side with the heavier weight for as many reps as I can, and then decreasing the weight to finish the set. I've had to do this especially for triceps and shoulder exercises where my left side is quite a bit weaker than my right. After 1 month I was able to complete all of the reps with the same weight for things like side lateral raises on the ball and over the body triceps extensions. Sometimes it's just really hard to assist, and I feel like I get more out of it if I lower the weight and let the muscle do the work.

I always do what Miss Lee does. Works for me.

Clare

 

[Melclear]

1 more vote for assist

I had this same issue on concentration curls today, actually with the same weights. 17#'s on my right side is A-OK for 7 reps but on my left, I am struggling for rep #6. I did these today and started with my left (didn't help) but I have been doing the assists for the last rep or two and then coming down extra slowly. I think my muscles are starting to even out because I used to experience this on any bicep curls with DB's but now it's only concentration curls and with pretty heavy weight. Also, I am only down 1-2 reps, whereas I used to have more difference. Just figure out what works best for you! Good luck!

 

[morningstar]

I've been wondering this as well. My triceps are definitely stronger on my right side. I think I am going to do some down pyramids with my left side, rather than assisting. Assisting just doesn't feel right to me.