Weight Lifting, for Eight Year Olds? Part 2

by: Glenn Karisch, Certified Youth Fitness Trainer 

 

3/31/09  In the last installment of LIVE Fitness I noted that weight lifting can be an effective activity for the young.  Weight lifting will not negatively affect a child's growth as long as training is supervised with proper form and using light weights all of which are recommended by PEDRIATRICS***.  In this article I will address the issues "weight training causes injuries" and "there are no benefits to children who weight train".

 

"Weight lifting causes injuries".  No parent likes to see their child injured and no physical activity a child may participate in is without risk of injury; free play, youth sports, or weight lifting.  PEDIATRICS notes that much of the concern over injuries associated with strength training comes from the "US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System".  This system estimates the number of injuries connected with weight training equipment, but it does not indicate whether the injury occurred recreationally or through competitive activities.  The findings note muscle strains account for 40% to 70% of all strength-training injuries, with the hand, low back, and upper trunk being commonly injured areas, with the majority of injuries occurring on home equipment with unsafe behavior and unsupervised settings.  The final conclusion, injury rates in settings with strict supervision and proper technique are lower than those that occur in other sports or general recess play at school.

 

So what are the benefits?  I'll start with the childhood obesity epidemic.  Government studies show that nearly one third of children and teens, about 25 million, are over weight or on the verge of becoming so.  Weight lifting is a low impact exercise which differs from the normal aerobic fitness activities.  Overweight children sometimes have a more difficult time with sports, PE games, and jogging.  They often become embarrassed about their performance.  Weight lifting is an event where the only competition is they themselves and with regular training, calories are burned, strength increases, and coordination improves which helps physical performance.  For the overweight child weight lifting could be a key activity to weight loss and a boost to their self confidence.

 

Osteoporosis is a condition where bone becomes brittle and weak as a person ages.  Childhood, especially early puberty, is a crucial period for establishing future bone density.  Because children's bones are still growing, they have a greater capacity to add density.  Exercise, especially weight lifting, during these early years will help build strong and dense bones.  As a person grows older the bones are less capable of adding density even with exercise.  Making any additional bone density developed from weight lifting early in life is a great foundation for having strong bones into later years.

 

Performance.  As a child's strength increases through neurological changes caused by weight lifting, physical performance is enhanced.  Strength plays an important role in sports, but it doesn't stop there.  The neurological changes that weight lifting produces can help a boy or girl in all aspects of their daily lives; doing chores, free play, participating in PE, or playing sports.  Weight lifting builds strength; strength enhances ability, and ability builds self-confidence.

 

The last area of benefit for the young weight lifter is mental.  PEDTRIATRICS notes the benefits of strength training include mental well being for children struggling with cerebral palsy.  Children often feel inadequate with this feeling, becoming more pronounced if a child is below average in size or physical ability or has a physical handicap.  I believe weight lifting/strength training is a unique activity because it has a beneficial effect on two very important aspects of a child's life: mental well being and physical health.

 

This brings us to the end of this installment of LIVE Fitness. Please send comments and/or questions to FitnessTrainingCoach@msn.com

 

Until next time,

Glenn Karisch

ISSA Certified Youth Fitness Trainer

 

The views and information presented in this article do not reflect the opinions of Lee County Live or its advertisers.  They are the creation of the author and are presented for entertainment and informational purposes only.  You should consult your doctor before you begin any exercise or training activity, change your diet, begin a sport, or consume any dietary supplements.