Muscle symmetry

[polarmystery]

Quick question for the masses 'cause I honestly don't know.

If you are asymmetrically shaped, is it possible to work out to change muscle appearance? I don't know if I worded that correctly but an example would be people with six-pack abs where their abs don't align up side by side. Hrmm?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Abs - that's a big no. Abs' shape is dictated by genetics. For example, not everybody has a "six pack." Many have a four pack. Some have an eight pack. That is dictated by genetics. The one thing you can change is definition and size.

When it comes to muscle symmetry elsewhere (ie across the body), yeah you can fix that sometimes. Many times people substitute on a weaker side and end up using a few different muscles. If you can correct your form, then you can usually change these asymmetries. However, some of them can be genetic as well.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Abs - that's a big no. Abs' shape is dictated by genetics. For example, not everybody has a "six pack." Many have a four pack. Some have an eight pack. That is dictated by genetics. The one thing you can change is definition and size.

When it comes to muscle symmetry elsewhere (ie across the body), yeah you can fix that sometimes. Many times people substitute on a weaker side and end up using a few different muscles. If you can correct your form, then you can usually change these asymmetries. However, some of them can be genetic as well.

That's what I figured. I think I'm pretty symmetrical except for a few parts (forearms and back) but my abs are a little asymmetric as well. C'est la vie.

 

[crt1530]

How your muscles look is determined by their size, how much body fat you have covering them, and the origin and insertion points of the muscles. You can change the first two factors I listed, but you can't do anything about where your muscles attach to your bones. The best thing to do is focus on your strength/performance in whatever type of exercise you are doing and then modify your diet based on whether you want to gain or lose weight. Don't worry about whether you are perfectly symmetrical. Nobody is.

 

[allies]

Originally posted by: crt1530
How your muscles look is determined by their size, how much body fat you have covering them, and the origin and insertion points of the muscles. You can change the first two factors I listed, but you can't do anything about where your muscles attach to your bones. The best thing to do is focus on your strength/performance in whatever type of exercise you are doing and then modify your diet based on whether you want to gain or lose weight. Don't worry about whether you are perfectly symmetrical. Nobody is.

Except for Schwarzenegger

 

[crt1530]

Even Schwarzenegger.

http://www.learn-bodybuilding....bb/Schwarzenegger2.jpg

Look at the difference between his biceps. One has a much higher peak and the muscle balls up much tighter. That is due to the difference in the muscle insertion and origin points. He talks about it in his Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: crt1530
How your muscles look is determined by their size, how much body fat you have covering them, and the origin and insertion points of the muscles. You can change the first two factors I listed, but you can't do anything about where your muscles attach to your bones. The best thing to do is focus on your strength/performance in whatever type of exercise you are doing and then modify your diet based on whether you want to gain or lose weight. Don't worry about whether you are perfectly symmetrical. Nobody is.

That wasn't my question at all. I was talking about physical symmetry. IE: Competing bodybuilders. And you answered my question in the bolded above.

Originally posted by: crt1530
Even Schwarzenegger.

http://www.learn-bodybuilding....bb/Schwarzenegger2.jpg

Look at the difference between his biceps. One has a much higher peak and the muscle balls up much tighter. That is due to the difference in the muscle insertion and origin points. He talks about it in his Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding.

You also answered the question here.