Health Tips : Too young to weight lift?
Resistance training, resistance training, and resistance training all relate to the use of free weights and/or weight machines to increase muscular strength and muscular endurance.
Weight and power lifting involve the use of free weights (usually heavier than those used in strength training).
Some of the major lifts engaged in during weight and power lifting could cause injury, specifically if the athlete is not physically mature enough to handle the movement and/or weight.
Proper technique is also very important for injury avoidance and for maximum results – no matter what the age of the lifter is.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
• kids be well supervised by certified adults.
• any weight-training program be appropriate to the child’s stage of maturation and evaluated objectively by medical personnel. (Proper bone development is among the key factors to assess.)
• children avoid weight training, power lifting, bodybuilding, and the use of maximal amounts of weight until they’ve met certain developmental criteria.
See the American Academy of Pediatrics position paper for more specific details on the above points.
Here’s another question – Where is your son planning to lift? Supervision by a coach or athletic trainer with an academic degree in exercise physiology or a closely related field could make the activity a lot safer and much more effective.
Experience working with preteens and teens, and certification from a nationally recognized organization, like the National Strength and Conditioning Association, wouldn’t hurt either.
Now that physical education in quite a few schools has lastly shifted to accommodate students’ total health and interests, weight-exercise programs are more commonly available as a curriculum choice.
Health clubs are also providing more fitness plans designed for kids.
For sure, strength is only one component of fitness – cardiovascular endurance and flexibility are the others.
Be sure to encourage your child to experience “life” sports – those that can last him a lifetime and that he can participate in with others or alone – e.g., swimming, cycling, skating, walking, etc.
Team sports are also excellent for children because they foster camaraderie, teamwork, and the art of graceful losing, as well as winning.