ExRx.net

Something I figured out this morning in the gym. When I do DB presses, I used to do them standing up, from warm-up to finish. Now when I start pressing 80 lbs. and over, I sit down, because I found out that I had been favoring my left arm too much, i.e., I did 4 reps with 85 lbs. right-handed, and could barely get 2 reps left-handed.

How did you discover this by sitting down rather than standing?

I found out that while standing, I had been favoring my left shoulder too much. So by doing DB presses sitting, it's a level playing field.

and I am confused as to why this is. There should be no difference if you do them seated or standing if you have proper form.

Sounds like you might have an RC strain or partial tear. When you're standing, you are involving many muscle groups. What about DB benches? Do you get more reps on one side?

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Bio: Age 56; former NPC Masters Champion (1990); teacher; married with kids; heroes: John Grimak and Frank Zane; favorite sport: Steelers Football (worked in TV with R. Blier); hobbies: canoeing, cycling, free weight exercise.

Well yeah, you can't favor the left arm over the right arm while benchpressing, but it's really easy to cheat a bit doing one-armed DB presses; you probably don't even realize it until you sit down and workout.

I guess I feel like I could cheat just the same sitting down unless I was practically doing a DB Push press standing. I suppose that is possible.