Should teenagers be lifting?

[Senior Ding-Dong]

There has often been mass confusion on the issue and i think its time it were cleared up.

1.There is the opinion that teenagers should only do light weights at high reps. this is to prevent any damage and stump growth due to your bones being underdeveloped.

2. There is the opinion that the above is a crock of **** and heavy weights do nothing to damage growth etc.

What are ur opinions on this and what advice would you give to a teenage lifter(17).

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by Senior Ding-Dong
2. There is the opinion that the above is a crock of **** and heavy weights do nothing to damage growth etc.

What are ur opinions on this and what advice would you give to a teenage lifter(17).

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of teenagers, many well under 17, have been lifting weights and if there were bad side effects don't you think they would have been determined by now?

I've been lifting seriously for about 3 months, no problems yet, only benefits, and I'm your age.

 

[Bulldog6971]

working out naturally as a teen is great, you may even grow more due to increased growth hormones example doing squats. Its when you take steroids you here about teens not growing anymore.

 

[7 Virtues]

Nothing wrong with teenagers lifting heavy.

 

[Porky]

you aren't supposed to start before the onset of puberty. If it were really a danger they wouldn't have under-16 weight classes at the Y.

 

[7 Virtues]

You can start before puberty. The only reason to avoid maximal lifts before puberty is risk of injury, not fusing of growth plates.

The only thing that should be avoid by teens and pre-teens is use of steroids.

 

[Jay-X]

i don't agree with u guys... i think that liftin' weights when u r young really slows your growth... i'm 17yrs old and i'm 5'9... i've been liftin' light weights since the age of 12... my brothers never lifted any weight and at the age of 16 and 14 they already are 6'1 and 6'2, maybe 6'3... and before i started liftin' i always used to be one of the tallest kids in school, while now i'm one of the shortest

 

[7 Virtues]

Or maybe mommy had a little visit from Don Juan Mail man.

 

[gav]

Originally posted by 7 Virtues
Or maybe mommy had a little visit from Don Juan Mail man.

heh

anyways, 5'9 isn't that short

 

[comic_relief]

isn't 5'9" average hight in the USA?

 

[Luveno]

Heavy lifting as a teenager who hasn't finished puberty can result in premature fusion of bone growth plates. Basically, the bulk from your newly built muscles squeezes the bones together so that they don't grow longer anymore. Instead, they fuse and stay that length permanently.

Therefore, heavy lifting too early causes premature growth cessation.

 

[souporman]

I started lifting right after i turned 13.. its been more than a year and so far no side effects...

 

[Ice Cold]

Originally posted by Luveno
Heavy lifting as a teenager who hasn't finished puberty can result in premature fusion of bone growth plates. Basically, the bulk from your newly built muscles squeezes the bones together so that they don't grow longer anymore. Instead, they fuse and stay that length permanently.

Therefore, heavy lifting too early causes premature growth cessation.

Hearsay... haven't been shown stastically significant.

 

[7 Virtues]

It is most likely that early fusion of growth plates due to weight lifting injury, has been caused by improper technique and spotting.