Can't get a straight answer

[Skunkwourk]

So Im right handed, my right forearm is more muscular than my left, same with the bicep, but not my pectoral muscle. How do I fix this?

I should also mention that I had an operation when I was younger and the scar slants to the right of my chest. Im not sure if this has affected muscle growth on my right side, however, its not as if I haven't been able to increase the size at all.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Refer to this link. This thread pretty much addresses this issue. If you've continued growing, I don't know if the scar has much to do with it. Scar tissue usually limits growth period, so I doubt it would be that.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Refer to this link. This thread pretty much addresses this issue. If you've continued growing, I don't know if the scar has much to do with it. Scar tissue usually limits growth period, so I doubt it would be that.

thanks for the link, I searched "uneven" but came up with nothing...

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: m0mentary
So Im right handed, my right forearm is more muscular than my left, same with the bicep, but not my pectoral muscle. How do I fix this?

I should also mention that I had an operation when I was younger and the scar slants to the right of my chest. Im not sure if this has affected muscle growth on my right side, however, its not as if I haven't been able to increase the size at all.

No one is equal both sides of their body, it might just be this.. Unless its major don't worry about it, my pecs are slightly different shape to eachother. Don't expect to be symmetrical..

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: m0mentary
So Im right handed, my right forearm is more muscular than my left, same with the bicep, but not my pectoral muscle. How do I fix this?

I should also mention that I had an operation when I was younger and the scar slants to the right of my chest. Im not sure if this has affected muscle growth on my right side, however, its not as if I haven't been able to increase the size at all.

I assume you barbell bench press for working your chest. Since shoulders and triceps are involved in such motions, and your right arm is bigger (thus presumably stronger) than your left, it would follow that those stronger muscles would be doing more of the lifting than the same muscles on your left arm. So, your left pec is probably working harder than your right.

Try using dumbells for a while to see if they even up.

 

[dakels]

What type of surgical procedure did you have and how big is your scar?

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: dakels
What type of surgical procedure did you have and how big is your scar?

it was a congenital heart defect at birth, so I've had the scar my entire life, its about 6 inches in length and it starts around where the base of the sternum is and slants to the right.

EDIT: also I do bench presses with a barbell but I also do a bench press with dumbells on an incline. Anyone recommend any specific exercises to try? Someone told me to try push ups with my left leg over my right (not sure how that works out).

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: m0mentary

Originally posted by: dakels
What type of surgical procedure did you have and how big is your scar?

it was a congenital heart defect at birth, so I've had the scar my entire life, its about 6 inches in length and it starts around where the base of the sternum is and slants to the right.

EDIT: also I do bench presses with a barbell but I also do a bench press with dumbells on an incline. Anyone recommend any specific exercises to try? Someone told me to try push ups with my left leg over my right (not sure how that works out).

Don't do the pushups thing, that's silly. That changes things minimally or not at all. Do all of your chest work with dumbbells - flat bench, incline bench, decline bench (if you do this - I personally do weighted dips instead). Just hit most everything that effects your chest with dumbbells and see how it goes.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: m0mentary

Originally posted by: dakels
What type of surgical procedure did you have and how big is your scar?

it was a congenital heart defect at birth, so I've had the scar my entire life, its about 6 inches in length and it starts around where the base of the sternum is and slants to the right.

EDIT: also I do bench presses with a barbell but I also do a bench press with dumbells on an incline. Anyone recommend any specific exercises to try? Someone told me to try push ups with my left leg over my right (not sure how that works out).

Yeah, don't do any "uneven" excersises to play catch up. You greatly increase your chances of injury. The body likes to be aligned. So just keep working both sides evenly. I have a big concave portion of my rib cage but there aint shit that I can do about it. Don't overly worry about this "problem".

 

[dakels]

m0mentary: your scar location confuses me. Sounds almost like a mid cab incision which doesn't make sense to me (but I don't know what "slant" means here but probably a thoracotomy scar?). Did you have a PDA? Either way it doesn't matter, I'm just curious. They usually spare the muscles from as much damage as possible but you may have had some damage to the muscles in that area or scarring making it a bit misshapen. I'm just speculating. You should ask your doctor but I doubt there is anything worth doing about it surgically if your function and health are fine.

I am a little bit larger on one side over the other too from sports (pitcher, QB, and now tennis). It's pretty natural, even if your cause was a bit unnatural. I try to work out one side to help compensate but I don't go to any extremes. (like a few extra curls and stuff on left side)

TallBill do you have Pectus Excavatum? It's pretty common, severe cases can be surgically treated but most are just cosmetic and don't merit surgery. Unfortunatley, as you imply, there aren't many exercises to change the appearance much.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: dakels
m0mentary: your scar location confuses me. Sounds almost like a mid cab incision which doesn't make sense to me (but I don't know what "slant" means here but probably a thoracotomy scar?). Did you have a PDA? Either way it doesn't matter, I'm just curious. They usually spare the muscles from as much damage as possible but you may have had some damage to the muscles in that area or scarring making it a bit misshapen. I'm just speculating. You should ask your doctor but I doubt there is anything worth doing about it surgically if your function and health are fine.

I am a little bit larger on one side over the other too from sports (pitcher, QB, and now tennis). It's pretty natural, even if your cause was a bit unnatural. I try to work out one side to help compensate but I don't go to any extremes. (like a few extra curls and stuff on left side)

TallBill do you have Pectus Excavatum? It's pretty common, severe cases can be surgically treated but most are just cosmetic and don't merit surgery. Unfortunatley, as you imply, there aren't many exercises to change the appearance much.

Dakels its sort of like in this pic. Except mine has a slight slant to my right.

http://www.qub.ac.uk/cskills/Images/sternotomy-scar.jpg

I don't know if you're a physician and somewhat unlreated, but whatever procedure they did if you look at my x-ray you can see a metal ring in my chest.