12-23-2010, 05:57 PM
Ever seen someone who is say 5 foot 4 who works out? Chances are they look pretty buff even though they aren't that strong.
Basically they have less space to put it all so they look bigger. Also, a shorter person will be able to lift more weight because their limbs are shorter so they have a shorter distance to travel to lift the weight. Therefore their muscles have to work less hard then a tall person.
Physics: work is force times distance. shorter distance means the muscles don't have to work as hard to lift the same weight(force).
What this means overall is that, even if someone who is 5'4 can bench say 250, a guy who is 6'4 and can bench 220 is still far stronger, even though he looks like an average dude and the short guy looks like the Hulk.
Basically they have less space to put it all so they look bigger. Also, a shorter person will be able to lift more weight because their limbs are shorter so they have a shorter distance to travel to lift the weight. Therefore their muscles have to work less hard then a tall person.
Physics: work is force times distance. shorter distance means the muscles don't have to work as hard to lift the same weight(force).
What this means overall is that, even if someone who is 5'4 can bench say 250, a guy who is 6'4 and can bench 220 is still far stronger, even though he looks like an average dude and the short guy looks like the Hulk.