Constant Questions About Imbalances Between Muscles

[louden_swain]

It seems that recently this board has had an upsurge of people who say,

"my right pec is larger than my left pec"

"my right bicep is long and my right bicep is high, but they aren't the same shape"

"why is my right arm 15 inches while my left arm is 14.5 inches?"

"my right leg is not as big as my left leg"

"Why is my right delt shaped different than my left delt?"

"My right tricep doesn't extend down to the elbow like my left tricep"

"My right arm is stronger than my left"

Now folks, listen up!!!

The answer to all of these statements and questions is these imbalances are pre-determined by your genetic makeup.

People are always criticizing themselves when they hardly have any training under their belt. . . . rectifying imbalances takes time!!

It seems like people are approaching these imbalances all wrong. Most people say, include an extra set or a few reps. Others say include unilateral and other isolation work.

Example:

One leg--leg presses
concentration curls
single leg--leg extensions
cable cross-overs working one side at a time

This is not a reasonable approach!!

First of all, it takes years to build and transform a physique where it is balanced. If you think this can be accomplished in a few weeks or months, you are wrong.

For all people who are starting out in training, they should focus on heavy compound movements to develop strength and size. This includes exercises that will put on the most muscle in the shortest amount of time.

Everything will start to balance out once you are able to produce a certain degree of mass.

In the meantime, quit worrying about the little stuff and get in the gym and train hard to build strength and size. With hard work and dedication, imbalances will gradually disappear.

Building your physique should be the top priority, instead of training using piddly isolation movements.

Be patient. . .gains will come!!

 

[Lee]

finally someone posted it, hehe

 

[Exodus]

i have always noticed this, but i also noticed it on everyone else as well, so i dont complain. i have worked for 4 years to correct the difference in my biceps and i have finally brought them from half a inch difference, to 1/4 inch difference. so louden's right, it takes a whole lotta time.

X

 

[louden_swain]

Imbalance is based on genetics. . . not overuse or underuse.

 

[collegiateLifter]

Imbalance is based on genetics. . . not overuse or underuse.

not always. Sometimes you can overuse a side, or underuse another due to neural impingements, etc.

 

[edgecrusher]

Most of the indidvduals who start lifting, (especially at a young age) are athletes. The way these athletes are trained in there sports today, are to become one side dominant. (ie a pitcher in baseball, quaterbacks, even many linemen are now being taught to stick to one hand.) This causes an uneven neural drive to the dominant side of the body. If this imbalance is not addressed, it will be furthered and made worse.

If said indivdual enters a weightroom, and attempts to do solely bilateral exercises, he or she will increase this imbalance, and open his or herself up to injury, both on and off the field. Athletes must be able to use both their right and left side if they wish to excell at there sport of choice. Bodybuilders and powerlifters can benefit from this as well.

 

[DrBones]

Louden,
It also depends on what type of muscular imbalance you are talking about... I know your not referring to this example, but it is EXTREMELY important that you try to maintain a muscular balance between your chest and back for example. If you chest becomes overly large without decent back developement your chest will put your delts forward resulting in future tendon impingements and rotator cuff problems....

Now simple muscular symmettry imbalances are one thing... but muscular imbalances between agonist/antagonist muscles can be very bad and without a balanced routine can wreak havoc on your body.

Obviously you werent referring to this, but I just wanted to clarify things.

 

[michaelcoutts]

If you chest becomes overly large without decent back developement your chest will put your delts forward resulting in future tendon impingements and rotator cuff problems....

Very true. Muscular imbalances from one side of the body to another is not really an issue, i would agree 100% with u there louden. But if you dont address and imbalance between an aganost and antagonist you are open for some really fucked up injuries (Dr Bones knows this). It would be really silly to ignore this sort of imbalance

eg. Chest and Back imbalances = rotator cuff (2 months rehab)
Quad and Hammstring imbalances = knee problems
Inside Quad and Outer Quad imbalances =out of place knee cap


Just so people dont get the wrong idea when they hear to ignore muscular imbalance.

 

[wuss-no-more]

I think this thread is very one-sided.

 

[bilat]

Louden, can you check your private messages please?