Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
How should you workout if you have muscle imbalances?
1. Match reps per side, with a caveat. Most people do the weak side first, then stop their strong side. Instead, try pushing the strong side as normal then matching the weak side with as many rest pause sets as needed.
2. Let your technique change side to side. We're asymmetrical by design, so we shouldn't expect both sides to move the exact same. Need to rotate your leg out more? Rotate your arm in more? Do it. If you force yourself to be unnaturally symmetrical it may be limiting your comfort and performance on the weaker side.
3. Stop worrying about it. No matter what you see on social media, imbalances don't always lead to pain or performance issues. Often, they HELP performance e.g. in elite athletes. And what CAN lead to pain is catastrophizing about a problem that doesn't exist i.e. the nocebo effect.
How should you workout if you have muscle imbalances?
1. Match reps per side, with a caveat. Most people do the weak side first, then stop their strong side. Instead, try pushing the strong side as normal then matching the weak side with as many rest pause sets as needed.
2. Let your technique change side to side. We're asymmetrical by design, so we shouldn't expect both sides to move the exact same. Need to rotate your leg out more? Rotate your arm in more? Do it. If you force yourself to be unnaturally symmetrical it may be limiting your comfort and performance on the weaker side.
3. Stop worrying about it. No matter what you see on social media, imbalances don't always lead to pain or performance issues. Often, they HELP performance e.g. in elite athletes. And what CAN lead to pain is catastrophizing about a problem that doesn't exist i.e. the nocebo effect.
