How bad would a routine be with no direct chest work?

[Phenom]

Due to what I think is a strain in my right pec that doesn't want to get better, I've been giving thought to just forgetting about it for a month or two and focusing on everything except chest work. By the time the 1-2 month period is over I'm hoping I will be ready for heavy benching again and I can return to a normal routine. If not, then I guess I'll just have to continue on with the modified routine.

In the meantime, if I only did a 3-4 day split with heavy deads, standing over head press, squats, and back/shoulder/leg accessory work, would a routine like this eventually lead to a pretty badly unbalanced build? Or would the focus on other heavy compound movements and slight chest recruitment help my chest grow with everything else to some extent?

[Yosh86]

You should be fine if it is only a month or two. I had a rotator cuff issue in March and didn't bench until the end of the summer and now back to about the same level as before. I wouldn't be concerned with no direct chest work. Olympic weightlifters pretty much never do "chest" workouts and look strong.

[J L S]

Im all for training around not through injuries, but I wouldnt say neglect it completely, theres some good info from dave tate out there on recovering from pec tears/strains etc. I think going down the route you want to is probably for the best (still training what you can) but I a small amount of direct chest work could help in the long run.

have a read of this, few idea's in there you could use:

http://asp.elitefts.net/qa/training-...129525&tid=124

[IFBB David H]

I don't think it will be a problem if you lay off the direct chest work for a month or two. All of the other upper body exercises will indirectly recruit a little bit of chest work, so you won't wind up losing a whole lot during your recovery period...and at the end of the day, you will likely come back stronger than before.