Which muscle is stronger, bicep or tricep?

[Wendy Marie]

Just curious. I've been told since the tricep has three muscle insertions and the bicep two, the tricep is stronger. Period. My mind has trouble accepting this explanation since I can lift more weight performing a bicep curl versus kick back or french press.

 

[maddiesmum]

Biceps are much stronger. I can't go above 8 pounds on kickbacks, although I do 20 pounds and more on tricep overhead extensions, although there both arms are working together. Biceps can handle a much heavier load, regularly 15 pounds each, sometimes more.

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Wow, great question Wendy! You have me thinking on this one. Hmmmm, my first reaction would be exactly what you were told about the tricep physically having 3 heads vs biceps having two so therefore it must be stronger. However, my biceps are definitely stronger than my triceps.

My answer is going to have to be that it depends on each individual. We are all genetically different with our own unique blueprint. We all have different ratio's of muscle twitch fibers, pushing power, pulling power, etc. per muscle groups. So even though the tricep muscle physically makes up 2/3rds of the upper arm, I absolutely know that certain individuals have much greater bicep strength than tricep strength. And this applies to other body parts as well.

Sorry I couldn't give you a definitive answer on this

 

[kathryn]

I know triceps take up more space, and should logically be stronger, but maybe one reason biceps are usually stronger is the angle at which they are moved? Their kinesiology? Something to do with how pulleys and levers and such move?

 

[Sheilaraecote]

Well depending on the exercise, I can do more with my triceps than biceps (overhead extensions for instance). This is definitely not the case with tricep kickbacks though. Good question that I don't have the answer to!

 

[jordan]

Like muscle fibers, muscles generally do not work alone.
The two heads of the biceps and the brachialis muscle are synergistic (they work together to contract & coordinate movement) as are the three heads of the triceps. These two groups are also antagonistic to each other. To simplify, the score is even and it all goes back to hard work & genetics.

jordan