Children shouldn’t lift weights!
23/7/18
Links to articles on youth training:
https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=kids+strength+training+research&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart#d=gs_qabs&p=&u=%23p%3DYnIRM-mgR3kJ
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445252/
Some excerpts below:
Strength training has proven to be a safe and effective method of conditioning for adults, and it now appears that a growing number of children and adolescents also are training to improve their health, fitness, and sports performance. Although much of what we understand about the stimulus of strength exercise has been gained by exploring the responses of adults to various training protocols, research into the effects of strength exercise on children and adolescents has increased in recent years. Despite the contention that strength training was inappropriate or dangerous for young weight trainers, the safety and effectiveness of youth strength training are now well documented and the qualified acceptance of youth strength training by medical and fitness organizations is becoming universal.
Avery D. Faigenbaum, EdD,
Not only is regular physical activity essential for normal growth and development, but also a physically active lifestyle during the pediatric years may help to reduce the risk of developing some chronic diseases later in life (196). In addition to aerobic activities such as swimming and bicycling, research increasingly indicates that resistance training can offer unique benefits for children and adolescents when appropriately prescribed and supervised
Faigenbaum, AD, Kraemer, WJ, Blimkie, CJR, Jeffreys, I, Micheli, LJ, Nitka, M, and Rowland, TW. Youth resistance training: Updated position statement paper from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Primary care physicians who see young patients are often asked about strength training programs for children. Some parents are seeking ways to give their child a competitive edge in sports. Many parents of overweight children seek guidance about which activities are effective for weight loss. Musculoskeletal injuries and epiphyseal fractures are also a concern. Informed clinicians can reassure parents that, with adult supervision, proper equipment, and realistic expectations, strength training programs designed for children and adolescents are safe and effective.
Holly J Benjamin, Kimberly M Glow
The physician and sportsmedicine