safe age to start weight training

[klc9100]

my son is 12 and very athletic. he is small for his age, but he's very fast and aggressive. he is absolutely dying to start lifting weights. i've heard different theories on this subject. my internet research finds opinions from starting too young will stunt your growth, to resistance training and light weight training is fine at any age of monitored to ensure proper technique and safety.

 

[CowPimp]

There is no evidence to support the statement that resistance training stunts one's growth. That is completely fallacious, and there is no scientific backing for it. Ask anyone who says that what the physiological mechanism for this stunted growth is, and I guarantee they won't be able to answer.

Think about it like this: all kinds of kids play sports. When you play a sport, you are pushing yourself 100%. You are leaping, sprinting, cutting, and depending on the sport, even pushing against resistance (Think a lineman in football). All of this takes place in a totally open environment, whereas resistance training, in my opinion, is far safer because it can be tightly controlled. Also, there is the risk of a fracture at the epiphyseal plates of one's bones, which will limit the growth of that particular structure. The same risk with resistance training is comparatively small.

Strength Training by Children and Adolescents -- Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness 107 (6): 1470 -- AAP Policy

Read through that. A statement from the scientific community suggesting that resistance training is safe if appropriate technique is used. There is a risk with ANYTHING we do, but it is pretty minimal as far as resistance training goes.

 

[klc9100]

thanks man. i appreciate the link. that's about what i thought.

 

[gtbmed]

IIRC a lot of Russian and Chinese olympic weightlifters have started their training by the age of 12. If you take a kid who is very young you can teach them correct movement patterns and get them to develop the flexibility they need to be successful.

 

[P-funk]

Here are a few (of the many) articles I have written on my site regarding this question:

High School/Junior High Resistance Training: What Does Science Tell Us? — Patrick Ward, MS CSCS LMT

Long-Term Athletic Development Model — Patrick Ward, MS CSCS LMT

Resistance Training For Youth Athletes — Patrick Ward, MS CSCS LMT

Patrick

 

[Curt James]

At age 15 I was doing a full body workouts on Monday-Weds-Friday, and 3 x 10 on the basic movements.

Kudos to your son on being interested in the iron!

 

[Gazhole]

I think you should definitely encourage him, especially if he's so keen to try it out. I started lifting and exercising at age 13 and it didn't do me a bit of harm, and im 23 now.

Make sure he learns proper technique, gets plenty of good food and rest, and it can only mean good things for his health.

 

[readyformore]

Lol think about it like this, when you jump then land, that puts a ENORMOUS amount of pressure on all your joints... Kids are always jumping up and down doing and doing crazy stuff and this is all putting more pressure on your joints than the kid can lift in any exercise... Some how though if you work out your going to put too much pressure on the joint and it's going to make it so you can't grow...Not true and sounds stupid...

Good question to ask because if there is myths about it you want to at least make sure... I mean hell, that's your kid and your going to want the best for him...

As long as he's lifting with proper form and i mean PROPER FORM it will not stun your growth

 

[bbud]

I'd certainly try to keep it light and fun. There are few people who can carry any intense program from childhood to adulthood without burning out! If he starts to show signs of losing interest, I don't know that I'd try to hold his feet to the fire, so to speak. Let him take a break, and maybe come back to it later.

I used to hear things like "always finish what you start", and "don't be a quitter", but there's a fine line between that and forcing someone to stay with an activity to the point of burnout. Doing the latter may push him from the sport forever!

Just make it fun to start with.

cheers

 

[klc9100]

thanks for the replies. he will be playing football next year (3rd yr). i'm going to get him going on a little off-season training program. i appreciate the input guys.