Q and A: Unbalanced

I received this question from Rebecca:

I hear lots about using weight training to even out imbalances (of which I have a lot – my right side is a ton stronger than my left). Sooo … how exactly do you do this? It sounds like you would just work out the weaker side, but it feels weird not to do both.

Before I had a chance to answer, Asithi stepped in offered her opinion which was right on the money:

I have the same problem. My left arm is stronger since I bowl regularly with my left arm, but my left leg is weaker from an injury in a car accident. Talk about imbalances! I do not workout only one side of my body. When I do bicep curls, I use the same weight for both side. When I do squats, I hold the same weight. The only difference is that I let my weaker side be my guide. When it reaches fatigue, that is when I stop even though my stronger side can keep going.

You never want to lift different weights on different sides or else you’ll never catch up and just become more imbalanced.  Most imbalances aren’t so pronounced that you can’t lift the same weight on both sides- most of the time they manifest themselves through injury when other muscles are sick of overcompensating for the weaker ones, and when range of motion is limited.  Lift the same weight you normally would, but listen to your weaker side.  Your stronger side is still getting a workout, its just giving your weaker side time to catch up.

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