Lopsided strength?
- Thread starter melimcn
- Start date
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Hi Melimcn! Relax, you are not the only one with this problem . In fact, this question comes up frequently. Here is the advise I gave to another poster. It is the same advise I have for you. Good Luck!
>>>>>>It is normal to have a dominant side. For some it is possible to equal out the strength in both arms, but for others it may never happen. This can be due to reasons such as a previous injury or an impaired ligament attachment, just to name a couple.
If you would like to attempt to even out your arm strength, you have the option of either cutting back on the stronger side to match that of the weaker side or work at making the weaker side stronger.
If you have decided upon making the weaker side stronger, it is best to attempt this with dumbells over barbells, since you can work your arms independently with dumbells.
There is no exact method to make the one side stronger. Here are some suggestions: Try a different way each time you workout.
1) Do the same arm exercise for each side but use about a two pound heavier weight in the weaker arm(getting out as many reps as you safely can).
2) Use the same weight in the weaker arm but do an extra set for each exercise on the weaker side.
3) Do one additional bonus set for the weaker side by focusing on the negative portion of the movement. I suggest one set of 8 reps. Each rep you will spend 2 counts on the positive portion of the movement and 6 counts on the negative. That means for bicep curls go up 2 counts down 6 counts. For arnold presses go up 2 counts, down 6 counts. For kickbacks go up 2 counts down 6 counts.
As I said, sometimes these efforts work and other times (for some reason)the body just "prefers" to have a dominant side.
Good Luck!
>>>>>>It is normal to have a dominant side. For some it is possible to equal out the strength in both arms, but for others it may never happen. This can be due to reasons such as a previous injury or an impaired ligament attachment, just to name a couple.
If you would like to attempt to even out your arm strength, you have the option of either cutting back on the stronger side to match that of the weaker side or work at making the weaker side stronger.
If you have decided upon making the weaker side stronger, it is best to attempt this with dumbells over barbells, since you can work your arms independently with dumbells.
There is no exact method to make the one side stronger. Here are some suggestions: Try a different way each time you workout.
1) Do the same arm exercise for each side but use about a two pound heavier weight in the weaker arm(getting out as many reps as you safely can).
2) Use the same weight in the weaker arm but do an extra set for each exercise on the weaker side.
3) Do one additional bonus set for the weaker side by focusing on the negative portion of the movement. I suggest one set of 8 reps. Each rep you will spend 2 counts on the positive portion of the movement and 6 counts on the negative. That means for bicep curls go up 2 counts down 6 counts. For arnold presses go up 2 counts, down 6 counts. For kickbacks go up 2 counts down 6 counts.
As I said, sometimes these efforts work and other times (for some reason)the body just "prefers" to have a dominant side.
Good Luck!
Sekcy_Gymnast
Cathlete
Cathe,
That is really good advice! I noticed that when I did your legs and Shoulders workout, I noticed one part of my shoulder couldn't do as many reps as the other, however, the only exercise I felt this on was towards the end of the workout. I don't know what the exercise was called, but it was when you lay on your side, keeping one arm bent to stabilize, and the other one bent on top of your hip. You used 5lb dumbbells, and just lifted it up for 6, and lowered for 4.(I hope I explained it well!) My left shoulder couldn't as many reps as the other. I think I'll use your advice too!
Oh, also what is an Arnold press?
Thanks for everything!
~Adri;-)
That is really good advice! I noticed that when I did your legs and Shoulders workout, I noticed one part of my shoulder couldn't do as many reps as the other, however, the only exercise I felt this on was towards the end of the workout. I don't know what the exercise was called, but it was when you lay on your side, keeping one arm bent to stabilize, and the other one bent on top of your hip. You used 5lb dumbbells, and just lifted it up for 6, and lowered for 4.(I hope I explained it well!) My left shoulder couldn't as many reps as the other. I think I'll use your advice too!
Oh, also what is an Arnold press?
Thanks for everything!
~Adri;-)