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Symmetry balance from side to side can happen to anyone. Remember the biceps of the great Arnold Schwarzenegger? He flexed that right biceps way more than the left biceps, probably every day of his young life. The result was a right arm that was bigger and more peaked. He never gave that arm any more attention than the left, but it’ll look better from his teenage years until he’s the best built 90 year old on the planet. Injuries can create imbalances too – Ask 8-time Mr. Olympia winner Ronnie Coleman and his lats and triceps about that.

Maybe you suffer from the same issue. Do you flex one arm more than the other? Does your job require you to use your muscle groups in an unbalanced way? Injuries happen too. Did you sustain any nerve damage in your early or current years which may have led to your body developing differently on different sides? These imbalances can occur as a result of things you do at the chemical level as well. If you use growth hormone or anabolic steroids, then you may suddenly notice some imbalances. Genetics can be funny like that . None of us are built to be 100% even, and something as minor as very slight scoliosis can change how you look onstage for a lifetime.

It’s time to whip out the timer camera and a measuring tape. It’s time to bring some serious honesty and thought into your own imbalances, for whatever reason. Measure and record where you are now. Take pictures of your standing image. Really look at your physique with an honest eye.

Once you realize your changes, you need to think about how to address them. Typically, adding more sets or repetitions to one side of the body is NOT advisable, because it will result in new secondary changes. One-arm bench pressing means your chest sees better balance, but now you have triceps and shoulders growing an in imbalanced manner as well. Rather, dumbbell work is the way to go. Force each arm to use the same amount of effort all of the time, and the weaker side will grow to catch up!

Finally, address the behaviors that led to this imbalance. If your jump shot is causing you to see too much triceps development on one side, then learn to dribble with your left to offset things. Make it a rule to flex BOTH arms every time you make a muscle for someone. Above all, stay consistent in your efforts, pay attention to your body, and the balance will arrive with time.