Does Lifting Weights Stunt Progress in Children? What Mother and father Must Know

A number of weeks in the past, I shared a brief video of me deadlifting in my residence health club with my 3-year-old toddler subsequent to me, copying me along with his personal little barbell. It was a type of candy moments I can’t assist however share—I simply love these bonding moments.

Quickly after, a mum or dad messaged me: “Is that really secure? I’ve all the time heard that weight coaching can stunt a baby’s development.”

And you realize what? It’s a sound concern.

As a result of as mother and father, we wish our youngsters to be lively and wholesome—however we additionally need them to be secure.

So let’s discuss that concern. The place it comes from, what the science really says, and what to look out for in the case of resistance coaching for kids.

The place Did the “Lifting Stunts Progress” Delusion Come From?

For those who grew up listening to that lifting weights too early may “injury your bones” or “make you shorter,” you’re not alone. That perception has been round for some time.

However the place did it really come from?

A part of it’s linked to the concern of injuring one thing referred to as the development plates—areas of growing cartilage close to the ends of youngsters’s bones, the place bone development occurs. So naturally, the thought of loading weight onto a rising skeleton raised issues.

Then there’s the picture of many Olympic weightlifters: brief, highly effective athletes who elevate large masses. It’s straightforward to imagine the game made them that approach—however that’s not what occurred.

They’re brief as a result of that physique sort offers them a mechanical benefit within the sport. Not as a result of lifting stunted their development.

Enjoyable reality: The all-time world document holder in snatch and clear and jerk, Lasha Talakhadze, is a towering 6 ft 6 inches tall (197 cm).

The unique concern comes from outdated assumptions and a misunderstanding of what really causes development points.

What the Science Really Says About Energy Coaching and Progress

Let’s begin with the large one: No, lifting weights doesn’t stunt a baby’s development.

The truth is, when finished correctly, resistance coaching has no destructive impact on bone improvement. Quite the opposite, it could possibly really improve bone density, coordination, and assist stop damage.

Particularly as your youngster will get older, combining resistance coaching with different sports activities can cut back their danger of damage.

Right here’s what the analysis reveals:

• A evaluation revealed in Pediatrics concluded there’s no proof that youth resistance coaching negatively impacts development plates or linear development.

• The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) states that youth power coaching packages, when correctly supervised, are secure and useful.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics helps power coaching for kids, so long as the main focus is on approach and never maximal weights.

• A examine within the Journal of Energy and Conditioning Analysis discovered that damage charges in youth weight coaching are considerably decrease than in lots of common sports activities.

How Protected Is Youth Weight Coaching, Actually?

Let’s check out damage charges per 1,000 hours of participation throughout completely different sports activities:

Seems, resistance training is without doubt one of the most secure bodily actions your youngster can do—when finished proper.

When Weight Coaching Can Be a Concern for Children

So now that we’ve busted the parable, let’s discuss when weight coaching really can be dangerous for teenagers.

Like something, it is determined by the way it’s finished.

Weight coaching turns into an issue when:

• Children elevate weights unsupervised

• Nobody checks their type or approach

• They’re pushed to elevate too heavy, too quickly

• Gear isn’t suited to their dimension

• There’s no development or satisfactory restoration

However let’s be trustworthy—that’s not simply true for teenagers. That’s how adults get injured too. It appears lifting weights safely isn’t about age—it’s about how we practice.

How you can Make Energy Coaching Protected for Children

Right here’s the right way to preserve it secure, sensible, and useful:

✅ Supervision by somebody educated in power coaching strategies and progressions
✅ Deal with approach—not the quantity of weight
✅ Age-appropriate programming with correct relaxation
✅ Gear that matches their physique
✅ Maintain it enjoyable, skill-based, and interesting—particularly for youthful youngsters

When these issues are in place, lifting weights turns into not simply secure—it turns into a basis for future motion abilities and lifelong physique consciousness.

Why This Issues So A lot for Mother and father

As a result of all of us need our youngsters to be sturdy, lively, and assured. However we additionally need to shield them.

As an alternative of avoiding power coaching or creating concern round it, let’s educate them to do it proper.

As a result of when it’s finished proper, power coaching doesn’t simply construct muscle. It builds resilience, confidence, and lifelong wholesome habits.

And that’s one thing price lifting for. Wouldn’t you agree? —Marlene

References:

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/145/6/e20201011/76942/Resistance-Training-for-Children-and-Adolescents

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483033/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3418954/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0949328X20301903

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5538a1.htm