QUESTION:
I have a weak underdeveloped left side. The side area under my ribs is concave, the right side is normal. In order to try and correct this I did hanging leg lifts with ankle weights. I would gradually increase the weight on the left ankle but not the right. It targeted the correct muscle but the wrong side. I got no results on the left side but my right side blew up. Now I have the complex problem of still needing to build up my left side muscles and getting rid of the mass created on my right side muscle. What would you recommend?
ANSWER:
This same issue comes up time and time again and most people try to "fix" it the same way you did but the majority of the time it just doesn't work like that. Think of a house. If your house was sinking and the left side dropped 2 feet lower than the right would you build 2 feet more on the right side? Even if you even out the house it doesn't take away the fact that the house is still sinking.
There is something wrong with your foundation and you need to look at the cause for your weak underdeveloped left side before you look for a solution. The best recommendation is to find a specialist who deals with musculoskeletal issues such as a Licensed Physical Therapist, chiropractor or a personal trainer. If anything do it for piece of mind.
Once you are diagnosed properly then you can develop an exercise program to help develop your left side although the specialist you see will likely prescribe a program for you. You could have previously unknown structural issues that may be difficult or impossible to fix. Hopefully you simply have a muscle imbalance somewhere which an agonist muscle is tight and shortened while the antagonist is weak and lengthened or vice versa which can be remedied with simple stretching and resistance training program which you can learn more about on the following link, please take your time to read:
