uneven traps

[andyw]

hello

for the last couple weeks while i've been looking in the mirror i've notice that my right trap is significantly larger than my left one

i work my traps on shoulders days and i do many things, dumbell shrugs, barbell shrugs, static shrugs just for my traps, i always use an equal weight on each size

i worked them a couple days ago and i can feel DOMS equally on each side but one side is just bigger

does anyone know how i can even these out a bit

[ecko31s]

Hmm, I never heard of uneven traps before. I would say just stick to dumbells and take out any bilateral exercises like barbell shrugs. Also try doing one-arm dumbell shrugs. Just grab both of the dumbells then shrug one side for however many reps you want to do then shrug the other side. Or even try alternate dumbell shrugs.

[HBK]

Second Eko's comments. DB's should help even things up.

hbk

[PainMan]

Check your form. This may not apply to everyone but.........

I find that when I'm seeing a size (or strength) difference in one side over the other it is sometimes related to form. Its almost always a right hand - left hand thing since I'm right handed. I just find that because I use my right side more than my left, my right side is "smarter' than the left.

Smarter in that its unkowingly (and without my approval) figured out how to cheat better than the left does. If I watch my form very carefully I can see that the path my right arm follows (in a dumbbell biceps curl for example) is not exactly the same that my left follows. Now, it could be that its the left side that is the culprit here and its following a different path than the right because its just weaker but I can't shake the feeling that my right is just doing things "smarter".

Have a close look next time you're doing shrugs and check to see if the motion from both sides is identical. If not, really concentrate on making the path each arm follows identical. At least this way you'll know you're stressing each side equally which can only help in obtaining symmetry. Keep in mind that, or so I've heard, that professional bodybuilders can put in many years working on symmetry alone.

[bigTime]

True. I realized that as well with my right hand in regards to form. I'm right-handed and my left hand seems to be perfect with form while my right hand likes to take a different path. Weird!