I've noticed that I've always had one side of my body which the muscles develop better than the other. Of course, it is the side that I use most, the right, as I'm right-handed. I try to do extra reps on the other side, but I don't ever see any difference. I notice all the people in the DVD's look balanced. Cathe, I was wondering if you've ever experienced this or any of the gang in your workouts and any suggestions you may have. Thanks so much.
Muscle growth uneven
- Thread starter sophiem
- Start date
Bobbi
Cathlete
Hi, Sophie. I might be able to help. You could try isolating your left side by doing exercises that don't let the stronger side pick up the slack for the weaker which the stronger side loves to do. Emphasize dumbbells over the barbell for a time because the barbell gives the advantage to the stronger side. This will force the weaker side to do more work. Pay attention when you use the barbell and you may notice the left side dropping a bit because the right side is more forceful. You can add a set of concentration curls for biceps, one armed kickbacks for triceps, etc. You could even add a little weight on the weaker side to make the muscles work to failure while going a little lighter on the right than it's capable of because it has the advantage of being being stronger. I have the same problem with an inclination to injure myself on the left. Once injured, the weaker side gets weaker still. My problem resolved when I had to quit running and became so depressed, I quit it all. 
Starting all over and, horror of horrors, having to regain my muscle endurance on both sides, I had to use weenie weight but on the bright side, my left and right sides are pretty well balanced and my left shoulder and elbow, (it was the elbow in particular which caused me the most grief) have nice balance. I also stay in the light to moderate weight range because my triceps and shoulders never get as strong as my biceps and chest and back even with an extra strength day. I'm a hard gainer with small muscles.
You can also change your lead and start with the left. Since the left side is called upon to aid the right, it actually gets a little depleted before it is it's turn to work. Making it go first, and putting your focus in the muscles on the left could help. Try to concentrate on keeping the right side out of the work as much as possible. It's a good mental exercise too since we become so used to the right lead and the right side has the stregth advantage to begin with. My right side is more competant than my left when it comes to cardio that changes leads and when I mess something up in a workout, it's usually on the second side. Using a left lead when doing cardio is another possiblilty. If you are like me, you'll find it makes the workout much harder, gives the left muscles a chance to catch up with the right and gives your brain a workout too. It's hard! Good luck to you!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.
-Ann Landers
Starting all over and, horror of horrors, having to regain my muscle endurance on both sides, I had to use weenie weight but on the bright side, my left and right sides are pretty well balanced and my left shoulder and elbow, (it was the elbow in particular which caused me the most grief) have nice balance. I also stay in the light to moderate weight range because my triceps and shoulders never get as strong as my biceps and chest and back even with an extra strength day. I'm a hard gainer with small muscles. You can also change your lead and start with the left. Since the left side is called upon to aid the right, it actually gets a little depleted before it is it's turn to work. Making it go first, and putting your focus in the muscles on the left could help. Try to concentrate on keeping the right side out of the work as much as possible. It's a good mental exercise too since we become so used to the right lead and the right side has the stregth advantage to begin with. My right side is more competant than my left when it comes to cardio that changes leads and when I mess something up in a workout, it's usually on the second side. Using a left lead when doing cardio is another possiblilty. If you are like me, you'll find it makes the workout much harder, gives the left muscles a chance to catch up with the right and gives your brain a workout too. It's hard! Good luck to you!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.
-Ann Landers