As a Physiotherapist, I spend a large portion of my day working with adolescent athletes, either in the treatment room or the gym.
The most common question voiced by concerned parents arises when I turn the conversation to strength training, “Won’t this cause little Johnny’s growth to be stunted?”
This is an understandable concern - many of us have been told of this phenomenon since school days. But is it true? Should strength training be reserved for those that are skeletally mature?
The short answer is that strength training is not only safe for adolescents, but it is a highly beneficial thing to do!
The concern over stunted growth stems from a belief that resistance training in adolescents can cause damage to the growth plates in bones, thus arresting further development. However, there is now a large body of good evidence demonstrating that weight training does not adversely affect growth.
Not only is it safe, strength training is highly valuable in this population. It is single handedly the most useful tool in preparing adolescent bodies for the rigours of sport - it effectively reduces injury rate, strengthens bones and improves performance by making athletes stronger, faster and more powerful.
The one proviso on strength training in adolescents is that it must be done safely – good technique, good programming and adequate rest is paramount. Your Physiotherapist is a great resource to effectively implement a program such as this, allowing kids to continue dominating their weekend sport!
This article is written by Tom Collier, Physiotherapist at Back In Motion Eltham.
If you would like further information, please contact our practice on 9439 6776 to book in a consultation with Tom.