Can weight lifting stunt growth in children

ashlaura581

I’ve heard it said by several people that weightlifting can inhibit growth in children. My son is 11 and he is encouraged to max out in athletics. Is there any scientific basis to this claim?

youngmomtaz

Stunt? No. Potentially damage joints? Yes. Before children are past puberty they should really be doing very little weight lifting. Mostly just play including any and all sports they enjoy that include intervals, sprints, and body weight exercises. Some very controlled, low weight lifting to help support joints in a rehab after injury type setting is ok, with direction. But if it is muscular balance that is desired then the child should focus on a variety of sports and activity’s that do not focus on heavy lifting.

This is what I learned from sports medicine practitioners in my physical rehab portion of college classes, any and all physiotherapists I have spoken to, and any doctor I have ever seen with my children in tow.

I am sure someone will have research for you. Please speak to your sons doctor before taking that advice!!

Unknown

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mreichard

I researched this when my son started to lift. There was a study from like the 1920’s that widely cited to prove that resistance training stunted children’s growth, but when the American Academy of Pediatrics re-examined this some years ago they concluded that study was not representative of the US population - it was a study of child laborers hauling massive loads.

However, given kids’ tendency not to follow directions or exercise much caution and their likely inability a follow a bunch of form cues, I don’t think having kids lift heavy makes any sense.

jemhh

Lifting does not inhibit growth in children. However, lifting should be supervised, good form should be stressed, and the loads should be scaled back appropriately. Maxing out 11 year olds doesn't make sense to me, if you are talking about going for 1RM lifts.

pinuplove

My husband is training with our 14yo because he spotted some very bad form the coaches at school were not correcting. Around here they don't lift until 14. IMO 11 is far too young to be maxing out.

quiksylver296

I asked the sports doctor at our gym. His answer was no heavy lifting until after puberty. Growth plates are hard enough at that point.

cwolfman13

What does "max out in athletics" mean?

I was a competitive athlete from 3rd grade through my senior year in high school in a variety of sports...namely track and field, swimming, gymnastics, and football. I think being a multi sport athlete growing up was very good for my overall development and helped when things became more focused in high school to track in the spring and football in the fall.

I didn't do any kind of weight lifting when I was young...sport was enough. I started body weight training when I was 12 as a structured part of the sports I was engaged in...particularly with gymnastics. I didn't start lifting until my freshman year of high school.

Everything I've ever heard and been told is no weights until after puberty.