How Should I Train My Weaker Side?

[Mommie2Hottie]

I have been lifting for almost a year now. It seems that my left side is becoming weaker when I do DB exercises. I've not had any injuries and feel no pain during my sets. My arm just flat gives out. I started a set of lateral raises with 15lb dumbells. I was doing both arms at the same time and at rep 9, I just couldn't get my left one to budge. I dropped it down to 12.5 lbs just for that side and finished out the set. My following two sets were similiar.

What is the best way to remedy this? Should I just train my left arm at a lighter weight? Is it okay to drop lbs in the middle of a set? Do both arms/sides have to be worked with the same amount of weight?

[beefcake]

Everyone has a weaker side. The unilateral exercises are best for building up the lagging part. Just keep doing what you're doing and eventually it should catch up. I like to do one side at a time however. You can get more power when you focus on one side at a time rather than both at once. Don't drop the weight though. Just keep going at that weight and sooner or later the muscle will strengthen.

[BBAddict]

Make sure that when doing dumbells you do your first rep with the weaker side and never do more reps with the strong side than the weak side if you want to promote balance. If you keep doing one more rep with the strong side, it will stay stronger. Make sure you keep the same speed and focus on both sides. It is tough to get a lagging body part to catch up, but it's all part of the path we tread.

[Mommie2Hottie]

So when I do my DB shoulder presses today, if the same thing happens, do I use 12.5 for my left and 15 for the right so that I can complete a set of 12 reps or do I use 15 in both hands and stop at 9 reps when my left side gives out?

[Shibby]

I would see wich ever one you feel you getting a better workout from. But don't lift different amounts of wieghts on seperate sides.

[Puddles]

My left arm was considerably weaker than the right so I added an extra set into training the weaker side and it helped a lot.

Measure the two sides and if the weaker one is significantly smaller than the strong side then you know you need to train it harder or just cut back a little on the stronger side until the lagging side catches up.

[BadGenCD]

BBAddict said it really well =]