Request for Studies Involving Children and Weightlifting

[mrplunkey]

I have a *very* precocious 7.5 year old. He's tall, super-lean and very atheletic (soccer, basketball, swimming).

He's dying to lift weights. I don't want to discourage him, but I also don't want him damaging himself. Anything high-intensity, low-rep is off the table anyway.

Given that, can anyone help me look for studies that speak to weightlifting for children? If they suggest its a bad thing, then it will be a no-go regardless so I'm not looking for support in one direction or the other -- just the facts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[GSP]

I have a *very* precocious 7.5 year old. He's tall, super-lean and very atheletic (soccer, basketball, swimming).

He's dying to lift weights. I don't want to discourage him, but I also don't want him damaging himself. Anything high-intensity, low-rep is off the table anyway.

Given that, can anyone help me look for studies that speak to weightlifting for children? If they suggest its a bad thing, then it will be a no-go regardless so I'm not looking for support in one direction or the other -- just the facts.

Thanks in advance!

Nice to see another Knoxvillian around! Honestly, I'm not sure you'll find much in the way of true research on young children and weight training. I've looked a bit myself and found only anectodal info at best. I think it would be particularly difficult to find much organized data on children as young as your son.

I'm naturally a bit on the conservative side myself. I'm not sure I buy into the 'damaging growth plate' pseudo-science, but at the same time, I'd probably advocate working in a 5+ rep scheme for younger children and would reserve top max work for later in their lifting career. Frankly, just getting the proper motor pattern down when they are most able to learn them is probably the biggest benefit to starting earlier rather than later.

 

[djeclipse]

What abotu starting with BW movements like chin ups, push ups, dips etc.?

 

[Protobuilder]

Don't know of any studies, but the latest edition (just released) of Zatsiorsky's book, Science & Practice of Weight Training (think that's it), w/ Bill Kraemer, includes a new section on training kids, IIRC.

I remember reading somewhere that Dan John (?) has kids train w/ broom sticks and pvc pipes as well. Also, kids start training for olympiclifts at pretty young ages. I have no idea what kind of loads they use, but may just use broomsticks, etc. to get technique down.

Have you considered gymnastics as a solid base?

 

[musclemom]

I have a *very* precocious 7.5 year old. He's tall, super-lean and very atheletic (soccer, basketball, swimming).

He's dying to lift weights. I don't want to discourage him, but I also don't want him damaging himself. Anything high-intensity, low-rep is off the table anyway.

Given that, can anyone help me look for studies that speak to weightlifting for children? If they suggest its a bad thing, then it will be a no-go regardless so I'm not looking for support in one direction or the other -- just the facts.

Thanks in advance!

I can't help you with "studies" but I will tell you something ...

From the time I was in 1st grade until I was in jr. high we owned horses (well over 10 at one point *sigh*). We didn't have help, it was me, my mother and father and just because I was a kid and a girl didn't mean I didn't work as hard as they did. We did the cleaning, the feeding, took care of them completely, 7 days a week, with no vacations that entire time (you think it's hard finding a kennel for a dog LOL) ... and let me tell you something, if you don't think wheeling a wheelbarrow full of horseshit shit to the manure pile repeatedly, every day, isn't serious deadlifting you haven't done it. And I'm not even talking getting in hay in the summer (some of those bales weighed nearly as much as me), handling very pissed or scared horses ... toting grain bags ... this was serious WORK.

Didn't hurt me a bit, sure as hell didn't stunt my growth (considering I'm a 5'9" female). I have a screwed up back but that's congenital and traumatically related (same stupid horses, but getting thrown off bad/stupid/scared ones).

If the kid WANTs to lift, let 'em LIFT, take it as a compliment and have fun with it. Teach him good form, give him a routine, place a strong emphasis on bodyweight exercises. That Little Hercules ... that was a situation where the kid was being pushed, his father was nuts.

I could never understand how a kid could be harmed by using their muscles, seems to me stimulating nerves/tendons/ligaments/muscles in youth can only be beneficial.

 

[Cynical Simian]

Don't know of any studies, but the latest edition (just released) of Zatsiorsky's book, Science & Practice of Weight Training (think that's it), w/ Bill Kraemer, includes a new section on training kids, IIRC.

Just glanced at that chapter in my copy of Zatsiorsky. I highly suggest picking up a copy; you'd find it a great resource for your own training in addition to this topic.

Anyway, a couple general points of note:
1. The "stunting growth" claim is a myth
2. Technique, rather than strength, development is the primary focus at first (kids aren't the only ones who need to be told this )

Two of the resources he cites:
Kraemer and Fleck
NSCA on Youth Training

 

[The Shadow]

Anyway, a couple general points of note:
1. The "stunting growth" claim is a myth
/QUOTE]


A couple of things:

1 - Unless puberty hits - there is really no reason to lift in order to put on much size or strength as the hormonal suppost just isnt there. Will the kid get stronger??

Yes..but that is mainly due to a more efficient nervous system and technique as you mentioned.


2 - Stunted growth.....


I know there is a LOT of debate....I have never seen an elite male gymnast who was over the American male average height of 5'9". Remember - for YEARS studies "proved" that gear had NO effect from a performance based angle. We all know what a load of crap that was.

Just my 2 cc's worth.


Even being a scientist - I'll take daily empirical evidence over a limited study any day.

 

[Cynical Simian]

Agreed. In a chart that summarizes Kraemer and Fleck's recommendations, volume and progressive loading are minimal (pretty much to keep up with the kid's natural growth) until the 14-15 age range, with adult programs beginning at age 16. Until puberty, it's more a matter of developing/reinforcing good technique and exercise habits.

I know there is a LOT of debate....I have never seen an elite male gymnast who was over the American male average height of 5'9".

Isn't there a large self-selection component to this? An (obviously erroneous) analogue would be to say that you don't want your kid to play basketball because he'd get too tall.

 

[The Shadow]

Agreed. In a chart that summarizes Kraemer and Fleck's recommendations, volume and progressive loading are minimal (pretty much to keep up with the kid's natural growth) until the 14-15 age range, with adult programs beginning at age 16. Until puberty, it's more a matter of developing/reinforcing good technique and exercise habits.


Isn't there a large a self-selection component to this? An (obviously erroneous) analogue would be to say that you don't want your kid to play basketball because he'd get too tall.

Gymnastic training (tumbling etc) begins at 3-4 years of age these days....much too early to only let the shorter kids go...lol


I see your point though.....that taller might be less preferred due to the physics of the sport

 

[anotherbutters]

There was some mention of training kids in Starting Strength. I can't remember whether it was there or in one of Glenn Pendlay's posts, but wherever it was, the point was made that bench pressing a broom is going to be even less stressful on the body than doing pushups against your bodyweight. You can then add weight to the broom as the child progresses.

Glenn Pendlay had one or two very inspirational vids of children weightlifting on his Wichita Falls Weightlifting website, but it looks like the website has disappeared. One I particularly remember was Josh Robinett snatching 25kg. I thought that kid was brilliant. Probably only 5 or 6 years old.