Short people have it so easy!

[Pseudonym]

Is it easier for people with shorter limbs to lift heavier weights?

Let's take a really simple example... a bicep curl, with forearms of different lengths.

On a short arm, the weight would be nearer the pivot point (elbow) so there's less force applied. It's easier for a short-limbed person to lift the weight.

Or is it? On the other hand, the weight is still the same weight regardless of its position, so it's still applying the same downwards force. Therefore if it's closer to the elbow, the leverage would be less, which means it takes more effort to lift the weight. :shock:

I carefully forgot all my physics lessons after leaving high school. Perhaps some of our engineers could explain? :pfft:

[Growth]

I would think that for bicep curls, people with long forearms would be at a disadvantage. The further the weight gets from the pivot point the more torque force the weight is going to apply.

Lets take two scenarios, 1, a person with a 50cm forearm, 2, a person with a 30cm forearm.

if they were both to curl a 20kg dumbell then the torque forces applied by the weight would be,

1 100 Nm

2 60 Nm

The amount of torque a persons is able to generate will be limited by the strength of their bicep, just because they have a long forearm doesnt make them strong, if they dont have the strength to be able to generate the torque then they wont be able to lift the weight,

So at a quick glance without too much thought IMO a person the person with the longer forearm is at a disadvantage in this case.

Heres another way of looking at it

T= FxD (Torque = Force x Distance)

Lets say the two people in the above are able to generate 80Nm of torque, they have the same arm measurements as above 1 - 50cm 2 - 30cm

So here are forces each will be able to lift,

T=FxD, F = T / D

1. F = 80 / 0.5 = 160 N = 16KG

2. F = 80 / 0.3 = 266 N = 26KG

So we can see again that if the two had equal stength that the person with the longer forearm, 1, could only lift a 16kg DB, while the person with the shorter forearm, 2, can lift 26kg.

Just think of bolt cutters, the long handles at one end means you can genreate huge torque (ie the biceps generating the force) then comes the pivot point (elbow) and then the short little pincers that are right by the pivot point( ( ie short forearms closer to the pivot point)

So yeah, thats my thoughts, just some quick ideas, probabley total WRONG or something lol :pfft:

[frogie2001]

physics 101

same thing goes with squats, deadlifts and the like. which is one of the reasons i never post my weights that i can lift,

a because they arent' that high :oops:

but mostly that the level of weight that can be pushed doens't always reflect the muscularity of the physique.

I think a lot of younger guys getting into this sport are more interested in pushing heavy rather than technique and results. where as a short guy can put you to shame and blow any self confidence out of the water.

[jono]

physics 101

same thing goes with squats, deadlifts and the like. which is one of the reasons i never post my weights that i can lift,

a because they arent' that high :oops:

but mostly that the level of weight that can be pushed doens't always reflect the muscularity of the physique.

I think a lot of younger guys getting into this sport are more interested in pushing heavy rather than technique and results. where as a short guy can put you to shame and blow any self confidence out of the water.

you shouldnt feel any 'shame' or anything from some1 else who lifts differently than you. bb is about you vs. you. everyone is different, so the only person you can compare yourself to is you

[Varven]

Shorter people have it easier.

Think about a flat bench press or a deadlift, less distance to move through.

Wht do you think talkk fellows prefer to sumo deadlift as opposed to traditional deadlift: legs apart, less height to lift it upto, therefore easier.

Shorter people have it easier.... and look better when they gain even a bit of muscle. 5kgs of muscle on a 6,0 frame wouldnt even show, but might make a huge difference on someone 5,5.

[frogie2001]

you have all got that right it just gets my goat that I struggle to say do 15kg db curls at the end of the work out, next to a guy half my size doing 18kg. (only an example)

still it's an individual sport, i have no doubt that I will be getting more emotional as the weeks get closer to the comp, so bare with me

[Growth]

Sorry mate, what was your height again frogie?

[Marcus]

I think shorter people have it easier in some circumstances. I find with exercises like squats and deads I am a lot stronger than taller people my size (I'm 5'7). The longer legs can make it more difficult with these exercises.

However I've never noticed it with curling or benching.

[frogie2001]

ABOUT 1.7 - 1.8 M TALL. NOT TOO SHORT

[Growth]

lol :grin: thats a 10cm range, can you be more specific? . Im just over 6' and i dont find my height to be a factor at all.

Also i agree with jono, dont be afraid to post your workouts or lifts because they arent as heavy as someone elses, the point of things like journals is to map your progress, its not a competition to see who lifts the most.

[deegee]

you are right about the leverage issue. I have noticed short people take less time to build thier physique than taller people who have to put on more muscle to acieve the same look. I think the ideal bodybuilder height is about 5 7' or maybe even slightly shorter.

[Growth]

Well i love being tall, if just over 6' IS tall, i figure when i finally fill out il look like a monster lol :grin:

[jono]

Well i love being tall, if just over 6' IS tall, i figure when i finally fill out il look like a monster lol :grin:

ur taller than me man. you lanky bastard :grin: :grin:

[littlebigboy]

Is it easier for people with shorter limbs to lift heavier weights?

Let's take a really simple example... a bicep curl, with forearms of different lengths.

On a short arm, the weight would be nearer the pivot point (elbow) so there's less force applied. It's easier for a short-limbed person to lift the weight.

But doesn't a longer arm have the potential to accommodate a larger bicep muscle :?

A small Bow might shoot a small arrow 100 metres.

It will take a large Bow to shoot a big arrow 100 metres; but it will get there; and when it does it will tear a Bloody Big Hole :shock:

[brock_solid]

Lots of reading and hardly anytime :grin:

Well, i know i'd rather be tall than short, i've seen hugely muscley short stocky people and they look funny, but a 6"4 120kg muscle freak is hawt :twisted:

[jono]

Lots of reading and hardly anytime :grin:

Well, i know i'd rather be tall than short, i've seen hugely muscley short stocky people and they look funny, but a 6"4 120kg muscle freak is hawt :twisted:

6'4 120 is skinny

[brock_solid]

i meant 6"4 180kgs :roll:

[deegee]

I am happy being tall, I guess having to put on mmore muscle to get big I can live with !!

[hrdcor]

Im 5ft5 but my ego,s 7ft3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jono]

i meant 6"4 180kgs :roll:

?

6'4 120 is skiny in bb terms..

[Pseudonym]

Im 5ft5 but my ego,s 7ft3

What weight does it compete at, Hrdcor?

[The Legend Killer]

From what I've observed, short people definitely have it easier. Shorter people generally have much bulkier looking arms because the shortness of arm provides them an illusion that they have massive arms, and often they have a smaller range of motion, which means they have to work much less than someone with long arms. i.e. I was watching this short Islander guy once who was doing the dumbell benchpress-he was probably about 5'6". He would've only been using half the range of motion I do 9I have an armspan of about 6'6").

Taller people are also disadvantaged at the squat rack, much harder for a taller guy to get lower. There must be something to it-the majority of pro bodybuilders are short. Ronnie Coleman is a tall bodybuilder and he's only 5'11", Cutler's 5'9", Martinez about 5'6". Former WWE champ Batista realised he had to quit bodybuilding, because his height in comparison to the other shorter bodybuilders made him look skinny, even if he was weighing in excess of 300 lbs.

[Varven]

wasnt Arnie 6'1 or 6'2 or something ?

[Masif Gal]

I don't think it's an advantage to be neither tall, nor short when it comes to this sport.

For sure, vertically challenged individuals, compared to a taller speciman with the same muscle mass, will definitely look blockier & bigger because of their height, but they have done the same hard yards as the taller person to get to where they are.

My partner is 168cm's tall and looks like he's eaten something that's made him swell up, but I think he looks AMAZING! :nod:

[Macforeigner]

Hmmmm..short levers are better than long ones. Force x Distance = Force x Distance.