Hi all

I posted a bit back about a shoulder injury which is giving me grief. I went to my doctor about it and was duly referred to a Physio. During the exam I mentioned that I couldn't do db curls at my normal weight because of the pain. Her answer surprised me a bit:

"You can continue to do them on your healthy side. The modern theory is that there is a carry over of the benefits to the other side of the body"

Meaning that by doing db curls on my right side I would still reap some benefit on the left side. Anyone ever heard anything like this?? Sounds a bit weird to me! I'm not doing it as I don't want to end up looking like DIY is my favourite passtime! :p

Oh and the physio settled on ac ligament damage. Doesn't half hurt. :rolleyes:

I've heard of heavy eccentric stress on one side temporarily increasing immediate concentric force on the other side, but, if I'm correctly understanding what your physiotherapist said, I'd have to say that whatever benefits she is describing are in no way a substitute for actually performing exercise. If you make a significant amount of progression, you will create an imbalance.

You should have asked her what these benefits are.

Am going to probe her some more (as it were - she's quite attractive actually!) when I see her again in a month or so. Very curious as to what she meant by her comments. If I get any more info from her I'll surely post it on here... :)

Am going to probe her some more (as it were - she's quite attractive actually!)

:lol:

I don't know if I put too much stock in her theory...I've seen pictures of people who have had limbs amputated, and they almost never look symmetrical. For instance, I distinctly remember a guy who lost his forearm just below his elbow, and his back muscles weren't even close to symmetrical. He was a cut up lifter too, as a matter of fact.

I know endurance exercises of one leg will improve the other leg as well, but I think obviously not as much as the performing leg. I suppose the same is for strength exercises, but if you keep it up for a long time an imbalance is bound to develop.