The Elite Physique

Creating Muscle Balance With Unilateral Training

creating muscle balance with unilateral training

Create Muscle Balance with Unilateral Training

You can build beautiful muscle balance by incorporating unilateral training at times in your fitness program.  It’s not uncommon to stumble into a training plateau.  It’s inevitable for the hardcore trainer.  One element that can cause plateaus is having imbalanced muscle groups, such as the right biceps being stronger than the left biceps.

Barbell curls are the primary mass builder for the biceps.  However, if your left biceps is lacking strength due to the right one continually over powering it, you will never reach your full potential and stay stuck in your training rut.

Unilateral Training

Unilateral training is a great way to create muscle balance and boost your training.  MuscleandFitness.com tells us, “Unilateral training is actually an excellent way to quickly boost strength.”  This training tactic is done by working one arm or leg at a time so it get’s 100% full focus.  The idea is to use a heavier poundage for your weaker side so you can bring it up to speed with your stronger side.  For unilateral training, dumbbells, machines, and even cables are preferred.

muscle man curling dumbbell

Repetitions

One way to use unilateral training for bringing up lagging body parts is by adding a few extra reps at the end of each set.  For example, if you can curl a 20-pound dumbbell in each hand for 8 repetitions on your right arm, but can only get 5 reps with your left arm, drop the dumbbell in your left hand when you reach your maximum of 5 repetitions and grab a lighter dumbbell in which you can handle 3 more repetitions to keep up with the stronger arm.  Do this type of unilateral training until you can equally perform the same number of repetitions on each arm with a 20-pound dumbbell. When you return to your mass building curls, you will see your strength will have increased.

Sets

Another way of implementing unilateral training is to add extra sets for your lagging muscle groups.  Give your weaker side two extra sets of moderate weight so it can catch up to your stronger side.  Once your weaker side has caught up you will be amazed at the progression that will follow.red arrow pointing down

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Unilateral training is a great way to bring a weaker side up to par to bring overall balance to your physique. To be a step ahead on your game plan, check out my Free Report, 10 Laws of Bodybuilding.

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Karen Sessions NSCA-CPT

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My name is Karen Sessions and I am a life-time natural female bodybuilder, multi-certified fitness instructor, author, specialist in performance nutrition, and a success coach. I've been in the fitness industry since 1988! I teach people Just Like You how to transform their bodies, get in shape, build muscle, lose fat and compete in Bodybuilding, Physique, and Figure Competitions. When you have the CORRECT information you can have total confidence and turn your dreams into reality... and I can help transform YOUR body. I have helped THOUSANDS of clients reach their goals and I can help you, too. Be sure to grab my free gift above so you can start moving toward your goal.

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