Quoted post said:Originally Posted by Alex Simmons [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
I have a pretty decent leg imbalance, having had a lower leg amputation 4 years ago.
I've managed to equal or better my pre-amputation W/kg numbers for all durations longer than 4-minutes.
I'd say L-R "balance" is not as big an issue as some might think.
Thanks for the post from a cycling point of view. It seemed like this would be the case.
Training people in the world of lifting many of us that are or have been consultants/trainers hold the same point of view. We often see it really stand out when someone is in their first few months of lifting, such as, bench press and you see the bar go through the range of motion very irregular. Most of the time someone new to lifting believes they must do something special to correct this imbalance, but many of us just have them use a weight that the weaker body part can handle. In time strength will improve in the weaker area without any special focus. After a few months we typically see a balanced range of motion or at least from a visual point of view. (an imbalance is probably still there as it is for many of us, but cannot be seen when using a submaximal stress load)
I was talking to one of my friends that is a doctor and has been a trainer at a high level for a while. We both seem to agree that at submaximal loads it is not an important issue and even at maximal loads like a powerlifter at competition is still not a great issue. We do see at times a world class lifter using maximal weight at competition an imbalance may be visually noticed, but again no one seems to care. It is not something that lifter needs to address specifically.
Then I asked my friend what he thought about cycling and imbalance (he knows nothing of cycling training) but he did say that his thought is cycling is about submaximal work in general and could not see how working on an imbalance specifically would be necessary. I agree.
Anyway I thought this was interesting topic. Thanks for posting your opinion and especially with your condition would have even more insight of imbalance with major injuries and returning physical therapy.
