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Muscle imbalance

Very weird muscle imbalance

tommyclarke85
tommyclarke85 g Thomas Clarke
4 Post(s)
4 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2016
Posted

Hi guys,

im relatively new at weight training with my goal being to build muscle mass. I'm training 4-5 times per week for the last 12 weeks since I started. However I've developed a considerable muscle imbalance in my chest. My left side is bigger than my right. I've stopped doing bar bell bench and switched to dumb bell bench. However I've now noticed my bigger left pec muscle fails first before the smaller right one does. It seems the smaller (right side) muscle is stronger and takes longer to fail that the bigger (left side) . I'm wondering will either doing a one arm dumb bell bench even it out or what if I do lighter weight on the stronger side so it doesn't fail as quickly therefore helping me get more reps on the smaller side? I'm told it's a very strange problem as usually the smaller side is weaker and not stronger with muscle imbalances. 

For reference I'm 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, 31 years of age.

 

thanks guys !

Adawg38
Adawg38 g Aaron Henry
563 Post(s)
563 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: tommyclarke85

Hi guys,

im relatively new at weight training with my goal being to build muscle mass. I'm training 4-5 times per week for the last 12 weeks since I started. However I've developed a considerable muscle imbalance in my chest. My left side is bigger than my right. I've stopped doing bar bell bench and switched to dumb bell bench. However I've now noticed my bigger left pec muscle fails first before the smaller right one does. It seems the smaller (right side) muscle is stronger and takes longer to fail that the bigger (left side) . I'm wondering will either doing a one arm dumb bell bench even it out or what if I do lighter weight on the stronger side so it doesn't fail as quickly therefore helping me get more reps on the smaller side? I'm told it's a very strange problem as usually the smaller side is weaker and not stronger with muscle imbalances. 

For reference I'm 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, 31 years of age.

 

thanks guys !

Honestly bigger doesn't always mean stronger. It's true though with imbalances mostly the dominate size should be bigger and stronger. Changing to dumbbelss was a smart move but I'd continue to go that route keeping the weight equal for a while and give it time to work itself out before you try concentrating on a single side.

 

I have been training coming up on 6 years and have made some great gainz. I've done a lot of trial and error on myself as well as learned from others and through research online. I've come along way in strength and size since I've started. I will continue to learn and make myself better each day. MS Athlete/Super Hermanite BEING CHALLENGED IN LIFE IS INEVITABLE, BEING DEFEATED IS OPTIONAL.
tommyclarke85
tommyclarke85 g Thomas Clarke
4 Post(s)
4 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2016
Posted
Posted By: Adawg38

Honestly bigger doesn't always mean stronger. It's true though with imbalances mostly the dominate size should be bigger and stronger. Changing to dumbbelss was a smart move but I'd continue to go that route keeping the weight equal for a while and give it time to work itself out before you try concentrating on a single side.

 

Thanks for your advice, I'll stick with the equal weight for now and see if it works itself out! Thanks again.

jmboiardi
jmboiardi p John M Boiardi
2.6K Post(s)
2.6K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: tommyclarke85

Hi guys,

im relatively new at weight training with my goal being to build muscle mass. I'm training 4-5 times per week for the last 12 weeks since I started. However I've developed a considerable muscle imbalance in my chest. My left side is bigger than my right. I've stopped doing bar bell bench and switched to dumb bell bench. However I've now noticed my bigger left pec muscle fails first before the smaller right one does. It seems the smaller (right side) muscle is stronger and takes longer to fail that the bigger (left side) . I'm wondering will either doing a one arm dumb bell bench even it out or what if I do lighter weight on the stronger side so it doesn't fail as quickly therefore helping me get more reps on the smaller side? I'm told it's a very strange problem as usually the smaller side is weaker and not stronger with muscle imbalances. 

For reference I'm 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, 31 years of age.

 

thanks guys !

Tommy,

 

A couple of comments on this as I personally know how you feel:

 

First - Nobody's pecs are perfectly symmetrical. Your left pec will appear larger because your heart curves to the left and the left side typically "appears" bigger due to this. In actuality, the left pec is a bit larger than the right due to the heart's location.

 

2nd - You have done the right thing by focusing on Dumbbells versus Barbells. Barbell chest press is great for strength gains and also size to a certain degree. Dumbells, however, are far supperior for building chest size than barbells. This is because with dumbells your chest has to flex in two dimensions throughout the movement - bringing your arms together to raise the weight AND keeping your arms from falling to the side. With Barbell pressing, your shoulders handle the load of keeping your arms from falling to the side because the bar "attaches" both arms together where as with dunmbells each arm operates independently.

 

3rd - We tend to see imperfections in our physique in a more magnified manner than others do. Some of it has to do with our own visual perception of ourselves as we see our body from a different perspective than others. I have been convinced for decades my left pec is bigger than my right pec yet nobody sees it but me.

 

The bottom line is outside of muscle atrophy due to an injury your perceived asymmetry is not as bad as it appears to you. Using dumbells are the best way to prevent and/or "correct" muscle strength and size imbalances. The reason your left pec fatigues faster than your right when doing dumbells is that in fact your right pec is stronger than your left - especially if you are right handed. Dumbells expose true strength imbalances that barbells hide. Because dumbells make muscle groups operate independent of each other, they can't be compensated for by the stronger side.

 

John

 

 

34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-) MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
tommyclarke85
tommyclarke85 g Thomas Clarke
4 Post(s)
4 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2016
Posted
Posted By: jmboiardi

Tommy,

 

A couple of comments on this as I personally know how you feel:

 

First - Nobody's pecs are perfectly symmetrical. Your left pec will appear larger because your heart curves to the left and the left side typically "appears" bigger due to this. In actuality, the left pec is a bit larger than the right due to the heart's location.

 

2nd - You have done the right thing by focusing on Dumbbells versus Barbells. Barbell chest press is great for strength gains and also size to a certain degree. Dumbells, however, are far supperior for building chest size than barbells. This is because with dumbells your chest has to flex in two dimensions throughout the movement - bringing your arms together to raise the weight AND keeping your arms from falling to the side. With Barbell pressing, your shoulders handle the load of keeping your arms from falling to the side because the bar "attaches" both arms together where as with dunmbells each arm operates independently.

 

3rd - We tend to see imperfections in our physique in a more magnified manner than others do. Some of it has to do with our own visual perception of ourselves as we see our body from a different perspective than others. I have been convinced for decades my left pec is bigger than my right pec yet nobody sees it but me.

 

The bottom line is outside of muscle atrophy due to an injury your perceived asymmetry is not as bad as it appears to you. Using dumbells are the best way to prevent and/or "correct" muscle strength and size imbalances. The reason your left pec fatigues faster than your right when doing dumbells is that in fact your right pec is stronger than your left - especially if you are right handed. Dumbells expose true strength imbalances that barbells hide. Because dumbells make muscle groups operate independent of each other, they can't be compensated for by the stronger side.

 

John

 

 

Hi John,

 

thanks for for your comment. It's much appreciated. Yes I am indeed right handed which is why I figured my right pec was stronger even though it's smaller in size. My gym buddies have noticed the difference in size too between the two pecs. So would you also recommend keeping the equal weight in the dumb bells when doing the exercise or use a slightly heavier weight on the right smaller side to help with growth? I have noticed if I keep equal weight on each dumb bell and do equal reps the right side doesn't generally get fatigued. Which I'm assuming will lead to a lack of growth on that side.

jmboiardi
jmboiardi p John M Boiardi
2.6K Post(s)
2.6K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: tommyclarke85

Hi John,

 

thanks for for your comment. It's much appreciated. Yes I am indeed right handed which is why I figured my right pec was stronger even though it's smaller in size. My gym buddies have noticed the difference in size too between the two pecs. So would you also recommend keeping the equal weight in the dumb bells when doing the exercise or use a slightly heavier weight on the right smaller side to help with growth? I have noticed if I keep equal weight on each dumb bell and do equal reps the right side doesn't generally get fatigued. Which I'm assuming will lead to a lack of growth on that side.

You can try one of two things:

 

1) Do 1 arm DB chest presses where you can increase the weight just on one side.

 

2) Increase the intensity of the sets - do supersets or drop sets with the same weights and decrease your rest time. I guarantee you both sides will get fatigued

 

I am more a fan of #2 and it is what I have been using in my workouts for decades. You really want to stay away from unbalanced weight lifting (lifting different amounts with each side). This will actually lead to more of an imbalance - either in strength or size. Always use your weaker side as the weight limit. Only when the weaker side gets stronger do you up the weight for both sides.

 

You also need to remember that being right handed your CNS mappings and nerve firing is more efficient on your right side than your left since you use it more often. This will result in stronger contractions relative to muscle size. This is why your right side is stronger though it appears smaller - your brain is better at firing nerves for muscles on your right side than your left. Balanced training and equal weight lifting will train the brain and CNS to fire strong and efficiently for BOTH sides. It just takes time. Eventually your perceived imbalances will iron out. It could take years so just be patient :-)

 

John

34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-) MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
tommyclarke85
tommyclarke85 g Thomas Clarke
4 Post(s)
4 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2016
Posted
Posted By: jmboiardi

You can try one of two things:

 

1) Do 1 arm DB chest presses where you can increase the weight just on one side.

 

2) Increase the intensity of the sets - do supersets or drop sets with the same weights and decrease your rest time. I guarantee you both sides will get fatigued

 

I am more a fan of #2 and it is what I have been using in my workouts for decades. You really want to stay away from unbalanced weight lifting (lifting different amounts with each side). This will actually lead to more of an imbalance - either in strength or size. Always use your weaker side as the weight limit. Only when the weaker side gets stronger do you up the weight for both sides.

 

You also need to remember that being right handed your CNS mappings and nerve firing is more efficient on your right side than your left since you use it more often. This will result in stronger contractions relative to muscle size. This is why your right side is stronger though it appears smaller - your brain is better at firing nerves for muscles on your right side than your left. Balanced training and equal weight lifting will train the brain and CNS to fire strong and efficiently for BOTH sides. It just takes time. Eventually your perceived imbalances will iron out. It could take years so just be patient :-)

 

John

Hi John,

 

Thanks for the advice, that's great. Puts my mind at ease, makes sense about the CNS. I'll try your recommendations and keep you posted!

 

Regards

 

Tommy

muscular strength
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