Disproportionate left arm - Bodybuilding Discussion on Bodybuilding.net Training Forum

1988Mscott · 04-19-2008, 07:48 PM

Hey, the muscles on my left arm are smaller then the one's on my right side. It's not too bad but it is noticeable. Is this common? Is it just because I use my right hand more often then my left?

Ross86 · 04-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Yeah, it's fairly common. Especially with people that are starting out. Just make sure that you have good form when you're lifting and it will even out.

gymrat2321 · 04-20-2008, 12:19 PM

mine was the same way...what i did was for about 2 weeks every day i was in the gym i did 2 sets of dumbell curls with my left arm only with a light weight...someithing i could do about 15 time but only do 10...just do enough to stimulate the muscle on those days

Ross86 · 04-20-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gymrat2321

mine was the same way...what i did was for about 2 weeks every day i was in the gym i did 2 sets of dumbell curls with my left arm only with a light weight...someithing i could do about 15 time but only do 10...just do enough to stimulate the muscle on those days

Let's say that your right arm is stronger than your left. Every time you do dumbbell curls with the same weight, you're training your left arm harder than your right. It will even out that way. If you train your weaker arm more frequently, or with heavier weight, then you're more likely to throw off something else, IMO. I wouldn't bother trying to train just one side. It's almost counter productive.

XplodWithMe · 04-21-2008, 06:54 PM

Use dumbbells. It'll keep the one arm strong and the other will come up to match the other arm.

Barbells will tend to aggrivate it because it will end up in letting the other arm doing more of the work so you don't even out.

Ross86 · 04-21-2008, 06:59 PM

A combination of barbells and dumbbells is best. I see people cheating on one side with dumbbells very often.

Kane · 04-21-2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XplodWithMe

Use dumbbells. It'll keep the one arm strong and the other will come up to match the other arm.

Barbells will tend to aggrivate it because it will end up in letting the other arm doing more of the work so you don't even out.

I would stick with a barbell. If your strong arm does more work it will fatigue faster and then your weak arm will be forced to keep up.

I've seen some people that can curl a 45 in their strong hand and only a 30 in the other. Doing 30's in both hands isn't going to do much for the strong side imo. And like Ross said, cheating happens all to often with dumbbells.

widdoes2504 · 04-22-2008, 03:49 AM

I agree with Ross and Kane. Using barbells along with dumbbells will help straighten out your strength imbalance. Good luck.

MONSTAFACE · 04-22-2008, 05:55 AM

^^^ dido.

my 2 cents. do pushups. and a lot of them. you almost cant cheat on pushups. is it a proven science.............no but im almost sure that will help out.

iron_worker · 04-22-2008, 10:31 AM

I definately agree with the BB work. You're forcing your two sides to work together as a team and eventually they will even out.

04-19-2008, 07:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
1988Mscott Rank: New Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	Disproportionate left arm Hey, the muscles on my left arm are smaller then the one's on my right side. It's not too bad but it is noticeable. Is this common? Is it just because I use my right hand more often then my left?

04-19-2008, 09:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ross86 Rank: Lightweight Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,279 Country: Gender:	Yeah, it's fairly common. Especially with people that are starting out. Just make sure that you have good form when you're lifting and it will even out.
	Ross86's Sig:"Excuses are the building blocks to a monument of nothingness" "Your best day isn't the day you go in and perform at your peak, setting personal bests, and running through obstacles like they aren't even there. Your best day is when you feel like shit, you have no motivation, and all you want to do is stay in bed ... but you don't; you get your ass up, and you take care of business. THAT'S YOUR BEST DAY." - A very wise man Stone Black

04-21-2008, 06:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
XplodWithMe Rank: New Member Experience: 2-3 Years Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chesapeake Posts: 4 Country: Gender:	Use dumbbells. It'll keep the one arm strong and the other will come up to match the other arm. Barbells will tend to aggrivate it because it will end up in letting the other arm doing more of the work so you don't even out.
	XplodWithMe's Sig:Current weight 165lbs Bulk Til May to 175lbs Ban BSL Legislation Punish The Deed, Not The Breed! PAWSITIVE PITBULLS!

04-21-2008, 06:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ross86 Rank: Lightweight Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,279 Country: Gender:	A combination of barbells and dumbbells is best. I see people cheating on one side with dumbbells very often.
	Ross86's Sig:"Excuses are the building blocks to a monument of nothingness" "Your best day isn't the day you go in and perform at your peak, setting personal bests, and running through obstacles like they aren't even there. Your best day is when you feel like shit, you have no motivation, and all you want to do is stay in bed ... but you don't; you get your ass up, and you take care of business. THAT'S YOUR BEST DAY." - A very wise man Stone Black

04-22-2008, 03:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
widdoes2504 Rank: Lightweight Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,142 Country: Gender:	I agree with Ross and Kane. Using barbells along with dumbbells will help straighten out your strength imbalance. Good luck.
	widdoes2504's Sig:Height: 6 foot Weight: 240 pounds Bench: 415 (1x1) Deads: 565 (1x1) A2G Squat: 425 (1x1) Cardio sucks

04-20-2008, 12:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
gymrat2321 Rank: New Member Experience: 2-3 Years Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 26 Gender:	mine was the same way...what i did was for about 2 weeks every day i was in the gym i did 2 sets of dumbell curls with my left arm only with a light weight...someithing i could do about 15 time but only do 10...just do enough to stimulate the muscle on those days

04-22-2008, 05:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
MONSTAFACE Rank: Bantamweight Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: philly Posts: 924 Country: Gender:	^^^ dido. my 2 cents. do pushups. and a lot of them. you almost cant cheat on pushups. is it a proven science.............no but im almost sure that will help out.
	MONSTAFACE's Sig:in sports my will alone will get me from point A to B no matter what. in weight lifting i must understand that from A there is no B. the goal is constant progression and anything i do to hinder the continious straight line is counter productive. My will must be humbled and my humbleness must be willed yes......i just type and press enter, i dont proofread i did enough of that in college. you know what i meant when i typed it anyway www.myspace.com/monstaface

04-22-2008, 10:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
iron_worker Rank: Bantamweight Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Sk, Canada Posts: 539 Country: Gender:	I definately agree with the BB work. You're forcing your two sides to work together as a team and eventually they will even out.

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