Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I'm unsure, as I've read both camps. How much importance do you put on muscle strength balance?

For preventing injury, many camps claim that you need body balance. Some only push towards opposing muscle groups like abs/back, others for the left right balance.

Yet ive seen some great write-ups on evolutionary design and things like our shoulders being designed for throwing and most people being mono-dextrous leaves the body misbalanced left to right because of use.

Personally the only strong variant I notice on myself is my forearms. They are corded and no fat yet left one is 12" circumference and right is 13", a large difference in strength as well.

Is this evolutionarily beneficial or should I be working my left till it's caught up to prevent injury?

flag	asked Jan 10 2011 at 20:12 Stephen-Aegis 24k●2●33●106

Hey you. Are you home bound due to the weather? My corp office for work is in GA and they all stayed home today! Stay safe & warm down there. – sherpamelissa Jan 10 2011 at 20:38

Yes, awesome amount of snow, used the time to put in a seriously exhausting workout, and then took a nap! Love when I actually have time to nap! – Stephen-Aegis Jan 10 2011 at 22:16

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Also snow-bound in Atlanta-I have taken the opportunity to make lots of jokes about not needing milk and bread. – gone2croatan Jan 10 2011 at 22:30

<3 it cynarin..i commented that I was glad that I didnt need that nonsense either, but that I would be building fires if I lost power. I can always move the cow from the freezer to the backyard. – Stephen-Aegis Jan 10 2011 at 22:33

So that's where all my salesmen were when I needed them? Napping?! :D – sherpamelissa Jan 11 2011 at 1:49

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Todd · Answer 1 · 2011-01-10 22:23:45Z UTC

I have thought about this a lot. I have a much larger right pectoral, and a larger left forearm. I have always chalked it up to me being left-handed. I use my left arm more, and as such, my left arm is stronger. When bench pressing (and Im guessing here) my left arm is stronger so it manages the weight better, leaving my right pectoral to have to work harder to move the bar the same.

IMO, I would think balance would be ideal, but also not necessary for preventing injury. I have made it a point to bring my lagging muscles up to the level of their counterparts, but find it kind of difficult (picture doing dumbell press with different weights)

Background - Played Soccer and Lacrosse throughout highschool. Still play soccer 3 times a week with weight training 2-3 times. Never had an injury that wasn't force induced.

Travis Culp · Answer 2 · 2011-01-10 22:43:20Z UTC

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As you get stronger and increase the weights that you are lifting, it naturally balances out since the stimulus when you start out that causes the imbalance (for me it's the clutch pedal of my car) becomes insignificant compared to the intensity that you subject both sides to over time.

answered Jan 10 2011 at 22:43

Travis Culp♦
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	ive noticed this with parts of my body that I focus on with weights. My legs were unbalanced, but balanced out when I switched to moving plates instead of just moving around. I dont have strong enough forearm exercises yet to balance them out I guess... I imagine my personal misbalance comes swordfighting... I guess ill have to do hammer twists or something with my left... – Stephen-Aegis Jan 10 2011 at 22:50
	That's interesting about the difference between aerobic-type stuff and lifting, that the lifting remedied the imbalance for you (Stephen) and the running didn't. I've had big problems with my left leg being the "weak link" in my whole running apparatus (hamstring, then Achilles). I'm starting to lift more, gradually. – Paul Jan 10 2011 at 22:58

Muscle Balance Left to Right side

2 Answers