Stop talking about your weaker side
This is not medical advice.
This article is not meant to disparage a group, or be overly sanctimonious. It is more about a line of thinking, or attitude or outlook on your current situation.
This is just a pattern I have noticed over the years: People who tell me that they have a “weaker side” are generally less fit and are generally more averse to physical activity.
Many patients who tell us they have a high pain tolerance, in fact, have a lower pain tolerance.
It’s all relative, especially when we look at the picture above.
That’s a picture of my right arm (your left), with rotator cuff and bicep tear. I chose not to have surgery. I no longer have pain. It will always have less potential strength than the left side, however I don’t ever think of it as the “weaker side.” I just carry on with strengthening, knowing both sides will benefit, and even out the more I do it.
Rarely do people say, “this is my stronger side.” It’s almost like a constant, the glass is half empty mindset.
People who don’t tell me they have a weaker side include amputees and stroke patients. I know that sounds obvious, but it’s not mentioned as often.
There is no perfect symmetry. Forces in life are unequal; getting into and out of vehicles is one example.
College rhetoric
In school we were taught not to say that the patient had a “bad side.” This was long before political correctness. This involved total knee surgeries, stroke patients, fractures, motor vehicle accidents, amputees. We don’t want the patient to have the mind set of a “bad side,” because we are going to work hard on making it stronger. It’s a more optimistic perspective.
If you don’t like your weaker side, do something about it.
Resistance training/weightlifting will automatically even out some weakness. The stronger you get overall, the less disparity you will have.
Great post, Mike. “People who don’t tell me they have a weaker side include amputees and stroke patients. I know that sounds obvious, but it’s not mentioned as often.” I primarily do strength training via the Peloton platform and one of my favorite instructors is Logan Aldridge, who has one arm. He rarely if ever mentions it unless it’s to lighten things up. I love the positive mindset and positioning of this as a win-win, rather than focusing on what’s been lost in the way of normal function. Thanks so much.