Any Tips to correct strength imbalance (right side dominant)

J

Jon K-J

0
This has been an issue for some time. I have a medical condition that started in my left arm, and even before that I was always much stronger on my right side. I've been training both sides equally for some time and getting away with it, but over the last two weeks it's started to affect my bench pressing.

My current plan is to switch my barbell exercises over to their dumbbell equivalents and then maybe do a few extra reps on the weak side (12-14 on the left, 10 on the right, and so on) or perhaps just work each side separately and try to use a slightly higher weight on the weak side.

Anyone on the boards have any thoughts or tips? Any advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Jon

EDIT: I should also say that this doesn't affect my legs, just chest, shoulders and arms.
 
It would be hard to provide you with some answers without really knowing what your medical condition is all about, and how it effects your one arm to be weaker than the other
 
Thanks for the reply,

The medical condition is actually two medical conditions: compression of the median nerve and compartment syndrome. The only way in which it affects weight training is that I have to be careful not to stack up certain kinds of grip intensive exercises (anything with the same kind of hanging grip as a straight leg deadlift.) If I stress the muscles that control my grip too much then there is a tendency for my hands to fail, meaning that I drop weights without warning. On the other hand I've been working out for nearly two years now, and with a bit of common sense I've been able to train quite hard and never have any problems so long as I space out certain kinds of exercises.

The weakness isn't really directly to do with the Upper Limb Disorders, though. I just mentioned that they started there first to illustrate the fact that my left side has always been weak. I've always had a stronger right side, probably just because I'm right hand dominant. It's just a natural weakness in my off hand side, to be honest, but one that's becoming so bad that it's affecting my lifting.
 
Hello there,

I don't have any right now, but I could easily get some. I do keep seeing band exercises in books and around the net. Strangely, I nearly bought a whole load of resistance bands when I was in Japan. They're all the rage in fitness out there at the moment...
 
If you could get some bands, I think they would provide a great supplement to your training and help with your strength issue. I can give you some exercises if your purchase the bands.
 
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