I find my Left arm is WAy weaker then my right one.  I know that one side is normally a little stronger then the other, but by my 2 set of hammer curls I can barely make it to 9 on my left and my right arm is still going strong after 12 on my 3 set. 

Should I keep both arms at the same amount of sets and reps and hope to even out?  I can already see definition on my right side more then my left, I don’t want to be lop-sided!

Hello Khrystyne.

I too have had / have this problem. The 2 things that I’ve found to help the most are:

1) use dumbbells and go 2 or 5 lbs heavier on the weak arm and do the same reps.

and/or (Preferably AND)

2) do some “negative” work with the weak arm. Slower, more deliberate eccentric action (I.E. lowering the weight on a curl)

YMMV (Your mileage may vary)

Keep on rockin’ in the “free” world. Where the free is free to be what you want to be.

Anybody else have any good pointers?

Frank

Try using your ‘weaker’ arm more in everyday life too.  Have patience when using the dumbells, things will even up over time. 

Until then, tell people you’re a javelin thrower

This is just an opinion, I have nothing to back me up on this. OK, well, I’d say keep the weight the same on both arms, and eventually the left will catch up. Not sure if this will work, but I also wouldn’t worry too much about it. My right side is stronger too, but I use the machines, so I can’t tell how much. Good luck!

Bree

Great question!!!  Isn’t it true that most of us aren’t Symetrical in our bodies and faces? I am left handed so I notice my left arm is stronger than my right, what I do is just bump up the weigh on the right side a wee bit more.

I’m probably just quirky , but I actually find that even though I am right handed, I am actually stronger on my left than my right side.  More flexible too.  Does anybody else have this “problem”?

I believe it is a scientific fact that the human body is asymmetrical from the top of our heads to the bottoms of our feet.  I read an article about it not too long ago.

Kim

I don’t think it’s really a problem, it’s just the way we are made.  Brain dominance that makes us right and left handed may not be the same as your strong or weak side.

I’m very right dominant, and also have a difference in my flexibility on one side over the other.  I have a strong and weak side kayaking also.  Last night I was practicing self rescues on my weak side and I really had to concentrate on the series of steps to take to get back in the boat.  It felt backwards.  When I trained horses, I also noticed that they were often dominant on one side or the other.  They would prefer turning towards their strong side and were much less flexible on their weak side.