Uneven left/right muscle growth

[midnight armadillo]

My weightlifting has been adding some beefcake to the ole body. My arms however are not growing evenly - my left triceps & biceps are somewhat larger than my right. This is also true of the shoulders but not to the same degree. My lower body doesn't have this problem at all.

Any hints on how to address this?

[vikegirl]

1. Unfortunately, no advice

but I'm also interested in any responses to this question and wanted to kick it for you. I'm right-handed, so naturally my right side is stronger than my left. I've always wondered how to even this out. More reps on the left side? Less weight to the right side? Does using a barbell "distribute" weight more evenly?

Thanks! :-)

[MissMillie]

2. maybe for a while

you need to work one side more than the other, to get it to catch up.

[MemphisTiger]

3. Is your left your dominant hand?

If so this happens alot. Try doing dumbell work and your non-dominant side will be forced to catch up. Symmetry is one of the things the bodybuilding pros go for in competitions. This is very hard to achieve.

[midnight armadillo]

5. Actually I'm right-handed

The weird thing is that strength-wise both sides are pretty even. I do tend to carry my toddler in my left arm, so perhaps that side is getting more blood flow or something...

I will try bumping up the weight on the right and doing less barbell work.

[Kenneth ken]

4. two options

1. do more dumbell work; it will not allow you to "cheat" the way a barbell will.

2. bump the weight on your right side by 2 - 5 lbs over what you are doing on the left side. It will be a bit unbalanced, but will make your right side work harder. This idea would be advisable only for machines, I don't know that unbalanced wieghts would be such a good idea in terms of free weights.

[flvegan]

6. Your right side has already been trained

Think of opening the fridge and grabbing the gallon of milk. You use your right arm, right? Look at the mechanics behind it:

Take it off the shelf...sort of like a one hand row.
Carry it to the counter...like a half-executed bicep curl (also as a negative, since you're holding it there).
Turn it to pour...like a side lateral raise.
Finish pouring...back to that bicep curl.
Back on the shelf...front lateral raise.

You've done this a kajillion times, not just with milk, but in everything you do every day. It's going to take more work to build your right side than your left. Your left is going to put on muscle mass as it's much easier to shock less-used (conditioned) muscle.

Very basic explanation, I know. Not complete in explanation, either, but you get the idea I hope.

How to fix that? Sorry, but IMO, consistency over time is the only thing that will fix this. Uneven weights is a bad idea. Doubling up isn't going to help, I don't think. Studies have been done on this, but I don't think any were done over any real length of time.

My thoughts are that if you condition your muscles equally (remember how important form is, as well) over time, they "catch up and even out" as you increase poundage, reps, etc. Ask someone who's had to wear a cast on a leg or arm and has had muscle atrophy over that time. They shouldn't have stopped lifting with one arm, and lifted more with the other to catch up...

[midnight armadillo]

8. Thanks!

Very basic explanation, I know. Not complete in explanation, either, but
you get the idea I hope.

How to fix that? Sorry, but IMO, consistency over time is the only thing
that will fix this. Uneven weights is a bad idea. Doubling up isn't going
to help, I don't think. Studies have been done on this, but I don't think
any were done over any real length of time.

Thanks for the info. I guess I will just keep plugging away at the lifting and I imagine eventually both arms will wind up similar in size. My legs don't have this problem in the slightest.

I wonder if neural efficiency also plays a role, since as you point out I use my right arm much more than the left.

[Angry Girl]

7. Pilates and "ball" workouts will fix that!

If you have ANY muscular/connective tissue imbalances in your body, Pilates will find them! Also, exercises with the so-called Swiss ball emphasis balance and control, similar to Pilates.

Lemme know if you require more information. I recommend the DVD Pilates for Dummies for beginners. The Basic workout is only 15" but you'll feel it, guaranteed! There is also an intermediate workout but we've not tried it yet....