Many experts and scientists say younger kids shouldn't lift weights. So let’s get right to the point, does weightlifting stunt growth? Many have concerns about weightlifting stunting growth in kids, while, scientific evidence and expert opinions go against this claim. Proper form and good supervision not only prevent injuries, but also offer numerous benefits. Weight lifting could be vital to kids due to the advantages of weight lifting surpassing any drawbacks it offers. Studies show that weightlifting can improve body composition, heart and lung health, and overall wellness. According to Robert M. Malina, a professor at the University of Texas who is an expert, wrote in his paper “Experimental programs most often used are isotonic machines …show more content…
In a study, 29 out of 43 lower back injuries in sports were a result of poor form during weightlifting, and 30 of the 43 incidents were required to report for surgery. The evidence suggests that the main risk of growth from weightlifting comes not from the activity itself, but from injuries caused by improper form. Specifically, a study found that a significant number of lower back injuries in sports were due to poor weightlifting technique. Out of 43 reported incidents, 29 were linked to incorrect forms during weightlifting. Moreover, the severity of these injuries is highlighted by the fact that 30 out of the 43 cases required surgical intervention. This underscores the importance of proper training and supervision in weightlifting to prevent injuries that can negatively impact physical development. By emphasizing correct form and technique, people can reduce the risk of injury and enjoy the benefits of weightlifting without compromising their growth and overall well-being. In another study, Alex Diamond, an assistant professor in the Departments of Orthopaedics and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center stated in a study, With the physis considered the weak link, mechanisms that may result in muscle or ligamentous injury in an adult are more likely to result in damage to the growth plate and bone of a child. The statement highlights that in children, the growth plate is more vulnerable to injury compared to adults. This means that actions leading to muscle or ligament injuries in adults can potentially harm the growth plate and bone structure in children. Due to the ongoing development and maturation of bones in young individuals, any trauma or stress on the growth plate can disrupt normal growth patterns. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution and ensure proper form during weightlifting to avoid placing
Duff, John F. Youth Sports Injuries. A Medical Handbook for Parents and Coaches. New York: MacMillan, 1992. (pp.
Scientifically, a failure to recognize the positives of leading an active and physical lifestyle indirectly negates evolution itself. Our bodies adapt to the conditions we experience. For example, a callus forms because an area of your skin is constantly under stress. The callus is a stronger form of the normal skin and makes the body more conducive to perform a desired task. This can be applied to other physical actions and in this particular instance, youth sports. Saying that physical actions inhibit growth is like saying exercising is bad for a healthy body. Humans need the physical skills often performed in sports to grow and maintain a healthy body. However, it is true that modern society tries to stray away from what nature intends by placing far too great an emphasis on strength and skill rather than health and wellness. It is through this misplaced understanding of athleticism that we can attribute most to injury all the same these injuries, like a callus, build resistance. The injuries sustained in sports usually result in a stronger body just because that’s how the body works. If a part of your body is damaged, the natural course your body takes is to rebuild it stronger than ever to prevent future injury. I can say that is true from my own experiences. I remember times when I was younger participating in martial arts. Yes, the
All injuries are a serious matter, but upper body injuries are more delicate. “Although the majority of contusions to the most parts of the body result injuries that are self-correcting and without serious consequence, even relatively
There are many ways you can prevent injuries from happening before they do occur. Make sure you lift the right amount of weight to ensure that your body won’t wear down or you won’t injure yourself. Lifting more than you need to will only make your body worse. Using poor form can get you hurt quicker and easier than any other way. Make sure that you are using the correct form even if that means hiring a trainer or having a spotter. Workouts that you know can help because you will know the correct position. Workouts without machinery and weights have a lesser risk of hurting you. Cassidy says, “Years of intense workouts take a toll on your body..... Cartilage wears down and muscles, tendons, and ligaments can become less limber” (1).
Evidence of lifting weights can be traced back to the origins of man. As far back as cave painting and scrolls, there exists evidence of weightlifting. Initially as an expression of strength, to competition and functional training, weightlifting has carved its path through the ages. It has taken on a new role in the modern world; athletic training. With an entirely new emphasis in sports on speed, strength, and flexibility; weightlifting is more popular than ever. Unfortunately, young athletes often do more harm than good by injuring themselves lifting. When these uneducated lifters try to jump right into a program, lifting more than they should, an injury is imminent. What is overlooked, is that when weightlifting is done correctly, it has a great potential to prevent injuries instead of cause them. Understanding how the body works, using proper technique on the appropriate lifts, and participating in regular physical activity can greatly reduce the risk of athletic injuries.
It has long been thought that lifting weights at a very young age could stunt a child's growth, but more recent research has found that to be an inaccurate assumption. Dr. Na’ana Constantini was asked if lifting could stunt growth and his response was “ Lifting weights is not dangerous for teenagers if done correctly, with weights up to five kilos or so. It can do them good, by improving their motor ability” (qtd. in Siegel). I agree with this quote, but I feel that the weight mentioned is too broad. A weight of five kilos is only a little over eleven pounds, which would be appropriate for some teens, but the limit to lifting should not be set by age but rather by physical maturity. “ The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids avoid advanced use of weights such as in competitive sports of weightlifting, powerlifting and bodybuilding until their bodies
There has recently been increasing scrutiny debating the merits of strength training in our youth and more importantly the unsafe and unethical training practices that tend to be utilized in implementing strength training programs in all levels of amateur athletics. These controversies have enabled many people associated in medical and exercise sciences to take a further look at the field of prepubescent athletics and their impact on the developmental patterns of the children involved. The research in the field has provided feedback regarding the physiological, mental and social effects - negative and/or positive - that strength training influences over prepubescent growth and development.
The sheer energy of a gymnast alone can be felt by audiences of all ages, but what the spectators lack the ability to feel is the pounding of the bodies that bear the impact of the athletes in action. Gymnastics consists of a mixture of acrobatic performances of four different events for females, and six different events for males (Gianoulis 1). Gymnastics is demanding in a multitude of ways, including: physically, emotionally and mentally. It requires countless hours of dedication. The concerns of most gymnasts are moving up to the next level, or getting a more advanced skill, while the concerns of the doctors, coaches, and parents revolve mostly around the athlete’s health, which is put at stake for the adored yet dangerous sport. Injuries are common among both male and female gymnast alike, but due to the fact a female gymnast’s career peaks at the same time of major growth and development, a female gymnast’s body as a whole is more likely to undergo lifelong changes or affects (Gianoulis 2). Among the injuries of the mind blowing athletes, the most common ones affect the ankles, feet, lower back, wrist, and hands of individuals (Prevention and Treatment 1). From sprains, to the breaks, the intriguing sport of gymnastics is physically demanding on a gymnast’s body.
Gabboth, Tim. "Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins). Feb2012, Vol. 26 Issue 2, P487-491. 5p." N.p., n.d. Web.
"Gymnastics." Injuries â Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine â Children's Hospital Colorado. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. .
Paddock, Catharine. "Young Athletes: Injuries And Prevention." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International Ltd, 9 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
Physical activity enhances children’s quantitative development within middle childhood, supporting growth toward healthy strong people, physically and psychology. Middle childhood is documented as being between the ages of six to ten years old. A lack of physical activity affects children across all areas of development; it is not restricted within the domain of physical development. Discussed within are the expectations of motor development within middle childhood, the benefits of physical activity and the consequences of prolonged inactivity. Along with how a student’s physical development facilitates or restricts development in other areas and how the learning environment can accommodate and support the physical needs of students.
“Are Competitive Sports Bad For Kids?” 19 August, 2010 livestrong.com/article/211670-are-competitive-sports-bad-for-kids>. “National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.” “Preventing Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries in Youth: A Guide for Parents” June 2013. niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sports_Injuries/child_sports_injuries.asp>.
Today, many adolescents are involved in a variety of sports and activities and, of this large variety; there is one common aspect they can share. This is the urge to become stronger, faster, or do whatever it takes to outperform their competition. Because of this innate desire, adolescents are often prone to injuries related to overtraining. Overtraining is an emotional, behavioral, and physical condition that occurs when the amount of training done by an individual exceeds their recovery capacity. This is a very common type of injury that affects athletes of all ages, and it has been reported that up to fifty percent of these injuries have been seen in pediatric sports medicine (Brenner, 2007).
In our society today one of the most difficult problems we are facing is the large numbers of obesity in our children. One of the major factors in that is this; our children have become less physically active. At an early age children start watching TV, learn how to operate a computer, and play video games. Having technological skills is now a necessity in all of our lives because everything has turned “computerized,” but the fact is that our children are relying on these types of entertainment rather than getting up and physically exercising to entertain them selves. This directly affects the large number of obese children in our country today because of the lack of physical exercise. It is not that we want our kids to look a certain way or to be better at sports than everyone else, but it is that we want our kids to be physically fit and to develop a healthy lifestyle. Physical exercise is not only for adults, it is for children as well, so we must understand the importance of our children exercising and the benefits from it. By doing that it will make an impact on that child for the rest of his/her life.