Adjustment Needed? Right Side Bigger Than The Left

[slowpoke]

I've been rowing somewhat regularly for about a year now and have had considerable success with weight loss and general fitness but I'm noticing that my right side (biceps and calves in particular) is bigger than the left. Now I am right handed but I think it's also because I'm slightly knock-kneed which results in my right leg being a bit longer than the left.

Does anyone else have this issue and if so, any advice on how I should proceed? Any adjustments to the rower that can be made or just pick up weight training and focus on the left side?

[gvcormac]

You could put your right foot on a skateboard (or equivalent) when you row. For some but not all of the row.

[Tsnor]

I've been rowing somewhat regularly for about a year now and have had considerable success with weight loss and general fitness but I'm noticing that my right side (biceps and calves in particular) is bigger than the left. Now I am right handed but I think it's also because I'm slightly knock-kneed which results in my right leg being a bit longer than the left.

Does anyone else have this issue and if so, any advice on how I should proceed? Any adjustments to the rower that can be made or just pick up weight training and focus on the left side?

It is possible to drive more heavily with one leg than the other while rowing. When you do this on-the-water in a boat it rotates the boat (wrecks the set) so (1) this is a known problem that others do and (2) fixing it is good. See if you can have your left side do almost all the work rowing until you know what that feels like, then get your legs to do equal work. As you say you can also pick up weight training and focus on balanced strength. Strength training has advantages you can't get from rowing.

If one of your legs is longer it will only make a difference rowing while your knees are down flat. Once your knees are bending then the angle difference between left and right will cover any leg length difference. Most all of the leg drive is done with the knees bent, so slightly different leg length should not be an issue when working your legs.

If you do find that you want to make a "leg length adjustment" you can do that with an orthodic in your sneaker (to raise one foot slightly off the foot stretcher making your effective leg length longer) or you can put a board under your shoe on the shorter side. Any flat board will do, the thickness of the board will be the amount of adjustment. But I wouldn't. If it is not bothering you walking then don't mess with it. If it is bothering you walking then see a specialist to get something correctly fitted.

(Maybe also look at how you go up stairs, how you lift packages, etc. It's possible that non=rowing activities are the main cause of your right side being bigger, stronger than your left).

(Not a doctor, etc.)

[slowpoke]

That's a good idea to let off on the right leg to get a better sense of what it feels like to drive fully/predominantly with the left. Perhaps the adjustment is more technique related as opposed to any change with the rowing setup. The leg imbalance is so slight that it doesn't impact my daily life at all, never even thought about it until after I've been rowing.

[Tony Cook]

Size is no guarantee of strength.
After my first knee operation I lost a lot of muscle and so size in my right leg. I worked a lot to build the strength back up and although it became stronger than the left one the size never returned and was always an inch smaller in the thigh and half an inch smaller in the calf.

[jamesg]

Some degree of asymmetry is always to be expected, and exercise could well accentuate it. I certainly can't throw a ball with my left hand, wouldn't even try.

No doubt discus and javelin throwers and shotputters, tennis players, are all careful to balance muscle development somehow.