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Myth Busters #2

Resistance Training Negatively Impacts Growth

and Causes Injury in Children & Adolescents?

For decades there have been fears and misconceptions around the dangers of resistance training in youth athletes. This fear centres around the idea that stresses from resistance training would damage immature skeletal systems of young athletes and cause injuries or inhibit growth.

Below we will explore what NSCA’s stance is on this matter based on the most recent research into youth resistance training

Bone Health

Ø  Current observations suggest that childhood and adolescence maybe the perfect time for the bone modelling and remodelling process in response to forces seen in weight bearing activities

Ø  Research suggests weight-bearing exercise such as resistance training are essential for normal bone formation and growth.

Ø  Age-specific resistance training protocol supervised by trained professionals in combination with adequate nutrition (especially calcium intake) can maximise bone mineral density.

Ø  There is no research suggesting that resistance training has detrimental effects on linear growth in youth athletes.

Injury Risk

Ø  Properly prescribed and supervised Resistance Training results in a lower injury risk than team sports such as Rugby and Football which have up to 4x the risk factor.

Ø  A well designed and supervised resistance training program may even reduce young athlete's risk of sports-related injuries.

Additional Benefits – In the Youth Athlete

Ø  A well designed and supervised resistance training program may enhance the muscular strength and power of  youth athletes

Ø  A well designed and supervised resistance training program may improve the cardiovascular risk profile of youth athletes

Ø  A well designed and supervised resistance training program may improve motor skill performance and may play a role in enhancing sports performance in youth athletes.

Ø  A properly designed and supervised resistance training program can help improve the psychosocial well-being of youth.

Ø  A well designed and supervised resistance training program may help promote and develop livelong health habits in youth.

Referrences

Faigenbaum, Avery D1; Kraemer, William J2; Blimkie, Cameron J R3; Jeffreys, Ian4; Micheli, Lyle J5; Nitka, Mike6; Rowland, Thomas W7 Youth Resistance Training: Updated Position Statement Paper From the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: August 2009 - Volume 23 - Issue - p S60-S79