April 2005

The question-of-the-month for April comes from Ganesh in India, a 30 year old who would like to come to the United States some day and have his own chain of gyms.  His question is:

Dear Mike: 

What is the difference between doing a preacher curl with a straight bar versus using an EZ curl bar? 

Dear Ganesh:   

Thank you for submitting a great question, especially all the way from India!  First, for those of you who do not know, the EZ curl bar is the bar you see in the gym that has the slight curve to it.  When doing preacher curls - or bicep curls in general - you will get a different feeling when using each of these bars.  It is important to incorporate the use of both bars into your workout program.  I am a big advocate of hitting the muscle in as many ways as possible, which will result in maximum stimulation and growth.

The EZ curl bar is angled to eliminate stress on your wrists and elbows.  It does not, however, stretch the bicep at the insertion point (near the elbow) quite as much as using the straight bar.  Both bars have their purpose, so like I said above, utilize each of them for maximum results.

Thanks again for the great question.  Good luck with your training, and as always, don't forget to visit the Past Qs & As and my Training Tips section for more great tips and training info.

Until next month, train hard and stay healthy.

Mike Francois

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Note: Before embarking on any nutrition, supplementation, and/or training program, consult with your physician or other licensed health-care professional.