How to remedy this *strange* strength/size imbalance?

[enwar3]

Lately I've been noticing that my left tricep is not only bigger, but also weaker (!) than my right tricep. I know my left tricep is bigger because I can measure it (and see it) and I confident it's weaker because my left tricep consistently feels much more activated and tired (like it's trying to keep up) than my right tricep on big compound movements like bench and oh press.

This is a tough problem because if I try to catch my left tricep up in strength, it'll be even bigger than it is now (and much larger than my right side). Likewise, if I catch my right tricep up in size, it'll be much stronger than the left side. So really, I'm stuck. What can I do?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Perhaps it actually tires out quicker because you're using it more? Try to do one-arm exercises that isolate the triceps to see if there truly is a lack of strength or if you're just not using your right side enough. If that's not the case, you can work on that arm with lighter weight, higher rep movements focusing on tricep utilization. It could just be a motor activation issue.

 

[enwar3]

Perhaps it actually tires out quicker because you're using it more? Try to do one-arm exercises that isolate the triceps to see if there truly is a lack of strength or if you're just not using your right side enough. If that's not the case, you can work on that arm with lighter weight, higher rep movements focusing on tricep utilization. It could just be a motor activation issue.

Thanks for your advice SociallyChallenged!

1. So you're saying that, potentially, I'm actually using my left triceps much more, and that's why they're tiring out?

2. If it is a motor activation issue, what types of exercises should I work on? Exercises similar to what I normally do (oh press, bench), or other stuff (extensions)? I'm assuming you say lighter weight, higher rep movements because it's easier to focus on the motor activation..

 

[JayBlay77]

Thanks for your advice SociallyChallenged!
1. So you're saying that, potentially, I'm actually using my left triceps much more, and that's why they're tiring out?

Sounds like a likely possibility. For compound lifts that are using both arms, if you're not careful one arm can end up doing more of the work than the other.

As SC said, try out some one armed exercises that isolate the triceps. If your left arm maxes out at the same weight as the right you know that the strength is there, and that the left is actually working harder so it feels like it's weaker cause it's tired from compensating.

Though I suspect that if your left has been compensating for the right for a while it is going to be stronger (hence the larger muscle). Focus on keeping your hand position on the bar even and the bar from tilting when you press the weight back up so the right has to do an even share. You might continue to use the one armed tricep exercises to help the right catch up, ie don't increase the weight until both arms can perform the lift. Form is important too so the right arm doesn't offload some of the work to another muscle and stay weak.

For point 2 I don't know enough to comment.