Lopsidedness (Muscle Disproportion)

F

Frologic

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I don't use weights when I work out, and i'm cool with it. I'm getting the results I want, except for the fact that I've noticed that I'm lopsided, with my muscles favoring my dominate arm.

My workouts consist of doing a full body circuit of strength training in the morning, (various forms of push ups, pull ups, dips, squats, ab workouts etc etc) followed by cycling. Not a stationary bike I hit da hills! I also cycle in the evening but that's just because it's fun. :azzangel:

Anyways, how can my left arm catch up to my right. I've been concentrating on staggered pushups atm, but I'm not sure if i'm doing them in a way that would solve the problem. I'm not too concerned about it, but yo know, if it can be corrected . . . why not, right? Am I just gonna have to bite the bullet and get myself some freeweights. I'm not averse to it, I just don't use them b/c I don't like going to a gym.

Anyway thanks in advance.
 
Using dumbbells will help workout imbalances. The thing with pushups, pull-ups, and even a barbell is that one side of your body can take on more of the weight.
 
evan said:
Using dumbbells will help workout imbalances. The thing with pushups, pull-ups, and even a barbell is that one side of your body can take on more of the weight.
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Ah i see. I don't really know any one armed exercises (that I can actually do). I probably will have to invest in some dumbells.
 
Using resistance exercise stretch bands via a door anchor will allow each arm to act on its own strength. Over a short period of time you will develop a good balance. A 5% difference is usally adequate. While doing pull ups and push ups etc. the dominate arm will continue to get stronger and do most of the work most of the time. Thus the weaker arm never catches up.
 
the lads are right Frologic, u need some dumbells, borrow them if you don't want to buy them, but you do need them. But let's say, for argument's sake, that you can't find any, or you r too poor to buy some. What can you do? Well....you can do the same routine like you always do, but favour deliberately your weaker side. For example, when you do push ups, you can push your weaker side harder by making the angle of contact smaller from that side. Same with your pull ups, make sure your weaker side's hand is closer to your body than your other hand, force it to work harder. I don't know if that makes sense or not to you though LOL :D If it doesn't, use the dumbells.
 
doitnow said:
Using resistance exercise stretch bands via a door anchor will allow each arm to act on its own strength. Over a short period of time you will develop a good balance. A 5% difference is usally adequate. While doing pull ups and push ups etc. the dominate arm will continue to get stronger and do most of the work most of the time. Thus the weaker arm never catches up.
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Which exercises would I need to do with the resistance band. I wouldnt' be able to do the same ones would I?:confused:

also you have a cool username. It's the same as the title of one of my favoire mos def songs. :)

fit4life1976 said:
the lads are right Frologic, u need some dumbells, borrow them if you don't want to buy them, but you do need them. But let's say, for argument's sake, that you can't find any, or you r too poor to buy some. What can you do? Well....you can do the same routine like you always do, but favour deliberately your weaker side. For example, when you do push ups, you can push your weaker side harder by making the angle of contact smaller from that side. Same with your pull ups, make sure your weaker side's hand is closer to your body than your other hand, force it to work harder. I don't know if that makes sense or not to you though LOL :D If it doesn't, use the dumbells.
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That makes sense. I've been experimenting with different style of pushups, staggering mainly, but I never thought of adjusting even during the ones i'm familiar with. I'm gonna give that a try tomorrow. At least until I can hunt down some weights.

When I do get weights, would I need to have me left arm doing more than my right arm, so that it has a change to catch up or something? I dunno just imagining making my right arm wait sounds kinda funny. :yelrotflmao:

It would probably catch up on its own right, if I kept the weights for both arms the same?
 
fit4life1976 said:
make sure your weaker side's hand is closer to your body than your other hand, force it to work harder.
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I thought you were stronger when your arms are closer to your body. Back when I took martial arts, when doing wristlocks and other holds, the idea was to make the other guy extend his arms, but to keep yours close. I would have thought to have the weaker arm extended out further to make it work harder.
 
I think it depends. I know that if I concentrate on it, I can even adjust my body weight just enough, to put more weight on one side or the other. I can also consciously ease up with one arm as opposed to another too. But sometimes it can't be so cerebral so hopefully I'll get used to it.
 
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