General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength? Rss Feed  
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2008-08-12 10:58 PM

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Subject: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
When I finished my run today, my right leg felt totally fatigued while my left leg felt just fine.  I also feel like in my strength training exercises my right leg is doing more work than my left.  The same is true for biking.  Does anyone else have this problem?  I know I can start doing separate legs for my strength training, but how do I correct this in the bike and run?  I'm afraid it will become physically noticeable at some point!


2008-08-13 7:09 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?

I think I have the same issue...

When I flex both legs, my right quad is noticeably more defined...

I'm not going to worry about it, though.

I attribute it to being right handed.

 

2008-08-13 7:43 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
nope; when to my ankle/tendon injury I did a functional strength test and a gait analysis with both the Chiro and the Sports Med. Both said I was pretty balanced and had pretty good running mechanics which I found interesting considering I never go to the gym or lift any weights. I do swim/bike/run and add specific sessions like running/biking drills, run/ride hills, swim all 4 strokes and do active stretching which apparently keeps me well balanced. Thankfully cuz I detest the gym!

Anyway, if you think you have a muscle imbalance then get a specialist to test it and give recommendations to fix it.  

2008-08-13 7:55 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Master
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Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?

My right leg used to be stronger than my left during my years of volleyball and strength training.  I tried to "build up" my left leg to match my right because there was a noticeable difference in the size of my quads.

It also made shopping for pants difficult because the right pant leg was too tight.  I stopped lifting altogether and have been mainly focusing on the S/B/R (I still play volleyball occasionally) and my legs have finally evened out.  Whew!



Edited by vball03umd 2008-08-13 7:56 AM
2008-08-13 8:02 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Chicago suburbs
Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
ok, thanks!  I used to play volleyball too, and I was thinking that was the source of the problem.
2008-08-13 8:06 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Champion
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Fountain Hills, AZ
Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
My right leg is definatley more problematic than my left. I broke my platella back in 1989 if I have have any pain or discomfort, it's always that leg. I did loose a lot of muscle mass back then and to this day, the quads in my right leg look smaller to me.


2008-08-13 8:08 AM
in reply to: #1599373

Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
Yup- right leg is weaker than left, and always has been (which is weird cuz I'm right handed). My right quad/calf are a little less defined. I need to get it checked out to figure out how to balance them properly.
2008-08-13 8:26 AM
in reply to: #1599588

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?

wurkit_gurl - 2008-08-13 9:08 AM Yup- right leg is weaker than left, and always has been (which is weird cuz I'm right handed). My right quad/calf are a little less defined. I need to get it checked out to figure out how to balance them properly.

I don't think it's weird, because my legs are the same.    I attribute it to the left leg being the "plant" leg for sports I've done.  In martial arts my right leg was the quicker leg, but guess what leg was doing all of the "support" work?  Also, playing basketball, or any leaping exercise for that matter, I always jumped from my left leg.  It was the "power" leg, but other than soccer I couldn't kick with it a darn for football.  Most weight exercises I do now are unilateral, so I can focus on each leg, which seems to help.  I sometimes notice a difference in strength on the bike, but not on the run or swimming.

 

2008-08-13 8:29 AM
in reply to: #1599630

Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
kagoscuba - 2008-08-13 9:26 AM

wurkit_gurl - 2008-08-13 9:08 AM Yup- right leg is weaker than left, and always has been (which is weird cuz I'm right handed). My right quad/calf are a little less defined. I need to get it checked out to figure out how to balance them properly.

I don't think it's weird, because my legs are the same.    I attribute it to the left leg being the "plant" leg for sports I've done.  In martial arts my right leg was the quicker leg, but guess what leg was doing all of the "support" work?  Also, playing basketball, or any leaping exercise for that matter, I always jumped from my left leg.  It was the "power" leg, but other than soccer I couldn't kick with it a darn for football.  Most weight exercises I do now are unilateral, so I can focus on each leg, which seems to help.  I sometimes notice a difference in strength on the bike, but not on the run or swimming.

 

Oh, I'm sure that's why I'm imbalanced as well - I danced for years and years, and while moves are done on both sides, esp in warm-ups, combinations/choreography more often start on the right, with the left leg as the stabilizer. So I need to go have it looked at and get suggestions for how to properly even them out - I'm sure that would help my cycling immensely, and probably my running as well.

2008-08-13 8:39 AM
in reply to: #1599581

Champion
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Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
If you feel you have an imbalance, visit a specialist. Don't try to fix it on your own.
2008-08-13 9:00 AM
in reply to: #1599373

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Master
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Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Anyone else have an imbalance in leg strength?
the grip on my right hand is stronger than the grip on my left...


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