Weak right arm while benchpressing

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Hi you all,
You all might remember me from a post some time ago. Well, i got another problem and its from the same workout again, benchpresses. When I bench, my right arm seems to get tired way before my left arm. I can also feel it in my shoulder, which I was having a certain pain there before but not anymore. I tried leaning the weight more towards my left side but my right arm still gets worn out faster than my left. I don't think that its too heavy cause I have no problem lifting it, only my right arm. I'm lifting only 20kg and I've been weight training for about 6 months. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I would recommend two things:

1.) See your Doctor. If you have any muscular or tendon damage which may be causing this weakness, he/she will be able to tell you. A little pain in your shoulder may have been nothing, and this may also be nothing, but two things in a row in the same bodypart kinda throws up red flags to me. I definitely recommend cutting out any upper body exercise until you find out.

2.) If all goes well with the Doc, I would recommend reducing the weight for that exercise, and give your right arm time to catch up. You are doing the right exercise as long as you are using a machine, or a barbell. If you're using dumbbells, it may your stabilizing muscles which are not growing as fast, or working as well, or they may be exhausting too quickly. The machine and barbell are great because you will continue to give equal weight to both sides of your chest, and that is why I say 'reduce the weight'. You want to push a weight that is comfortable to the weaker side, and yet still gives you the strength gain.

NEVER lean the weight or shift, especially with any press movement. Your lower back, spine and stomach muscles will suffer the consequences! (Imagine you lose control of the weight in the shifting movement, resulting in a slipped disc, and/or torn up obliques!)
 
Thank you so much! Again your knowledge never seize to amaze me. I will try out what you've said and see how it goes. Thanx.
 
R W Elphinstone said:
The machine and barbell are great because you will continue to give equal weight to both sides of your chest
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I'm going to have to disagree.. I would reccomend, after seeing a doctor just to make sure, using db's and also lowering the weight. This will ensure you use each side equally. If your right side can't do anymore then don't do anymore with your left, and vice versa. Once you reach the point where you can hit failure at the same time, then you're ready to raise the weight again.
 
We're pretty much speaking of the same thing, because we're both advocating lower weight until the affected limb catches up. The key mechanics of the movement stays pretty much the same. The main point I'm trying to stress is stability when dealing with a weaker bodypart. You don't have as much side-to-side movement with machines or the barbell as you do with dumbbells, which could cause some injury.

I guess in all truth, machines are better for safety, as you could always drop any barbell or dumbbell on your head when your arms give out! :O

We seem to agree on the most important part of the message - SEE YOUR DOCTOR!
 
Yes. For this situation, dumbells is pretty much the way generally accepted way to go. Your right arm will catch up - often it's no more than a developmental difference that can be rounded out with some consistent training.
 
Dont see your doctor!!!!

Well u can but dont believe everything he says.

It sounds like U have the same problem as i had a few months back. Its just over training and a build up of lactic acid. I went to my docs and he said its just a strain and i should rest for a month. He was wrong. I saw a sports injury massage consultant and told me that the problem was that i dont get enough blood pumped round my body after a work out. You need the blood to wash away the lactic acid and stretch the muscle. I had two full body massages in a few days and when i got back in the gym 3weeks before the doc had told me to i was stronger than ever. The massages had streched my muscles and released all the nots.

I now do 5mins intenseivly on the Top XT (hand bike) or cross trainer at the end of each work out. I also found that I recover and grow much faster that before.

If u have a sports injury see a sports injury consultant, your doc will just tell u to rest.
 
Nice. Thanks for the help. My right arm have gotten better now. I took a couple of days rest and when I started lifting again, the pain wasn't there anymore. I guess I really must have been overtraining. Thanks again!
 
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