BYR Achieve · 镜像论坛

http://www.sixpackfactory.com/will-lifting-weights-stunt-my-growth/ I get this question week after week from eager teenagers who would love to be doing some form of weight training but are scared that doing so might stunt their growth. So let’s start with the short answer and bust this myth right here and now “ Lifting Weights or Weight Training will NOT Stunt Your Growth!!!” Real Life Proof Listen you only have to look as far as pro sports people or bodybuilders. Most basketball player’s start lifting weights at around 16 and it doesn’t seem to stunt their growth. Have you ever seen basket players like Shaquille O’Neal in real life? HE IS HUGE! What about football players? Guys like Michael Vick started weight training in his early teens and he seems to be doing alright :) . In fact 90% of pro basket players and football players started weight training in their teens and are well over 6ft. Then we can move on to bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger who is over 6’1” and we all know how young he started. Not to mention Lou Ferrigno who started training at around 14 and who is over 6’5”. An interesting fact is that the forces that athletes generated from jumping and performing certain sports specific techniques can be 6 times more than the forces that weight training will have on their bodies. So from a real world perspective this myth is pretty much busted but you might say “Hey, these guys are freaks of nature anyway, so maybe they just go lucky”. So let’s look at some facts and research that has been done on normal folks like us. Scientific Proof We can start with The National Strength and Conditioning Association, or NSCA. They are an international nonprofit educational association founded in 1978 who specializes primarily in strength training, injury prevention and related research. The NSCA publicizes its position statements on popular concepts such as anabolic steroid use, exercise for pregnant women and strength training for youth. On the topic of weight training and its effects on teenagers the NSCA admits that studies published as far back as the 1970s and 1980s have shown some damage to pre-adolescent growth cartilage but insist these injuries were from “improper lifting techniques, maximal lifts or lack of qualified adult supervision.” It says there is no evidence to prove that such training will result in stunted growth under safe and appropriate conditions. Then we can also look at ACSM. The American College of Sports Medicine was founded in 1954 and has “applied knowledge, training, and dedication in sports medicine and exercise science to promote healthier lifestyles” in all people. The ACSM also discloses their position stance on issues such as exercise and physical activity for older adults, exercising with specific health conditions and the female athlete triad. In the winter 2009/2010 newsletter “Fit Society Page” online, ACSM experts address the youth weight-training topic. According to these experts, among the myths of the youth fitness field is the wrongful accusation that weightlifting will stunt growth. They say there is “no current evidence to indicate a decrease in stature in children who regularly strength train in a supervised environment with qualified instruction.” ACSM says that lifting weights might instead impact growth favorably. There are many more health related organizations like the American Council on Exercise, Mayo Clinic and American Academy of Pediatrics who have all published information that bust this myth. In fact ACE’s Wayne Wescott, Ph.D., states that “progressive resistance training is the best way to enhance musculoskeletal development in boys and girls.” So the real life examples and proof seems to be backed up by some hard evidence and research from some of the worlds top health and fitness related organizations. Personal Proof So now let’s move on to the final phase and that is my own personal experience. I started weight training when I was 15. I lifted pretty heavy as I needed to add some muscle for the certain sports I was doing. I had a trainer who made sure I did everything correctly and that I did not push weights that were too heavy for me. Today I am 6ft tall, the tallest in my family in fact and I had not had any growth related problems whatsoever. I’ve never even had back problems. So from my own personal experience I know that this is a myth and that weight training has done nothing for me other then help me be healthier and stronger throughout my life. So to sum up. Weight training will not stunt your growth. However if you are using the wrong techniques and are not following a progressive program but instead try and go heavy too quickly, you will cause physical damaged as a teenager in the same way a 30 or 40 year old will do if they don’t follow correct training principles and use bad exercise form. I will leave you with these safe weight training tips that anyone should follow if they are starting a weight training program. Get a program that is designed to help you reach your goals. Start with body weight training exercises before moving onto lifting weights in the gym. Make sure your program is progressive. Don’t feel intimidated and use weights that are too heavy for you and so injure yourself. Building muscle takes time. Don’t get impatient and starting listing to bad advice from your friends or anyone in the gym unless they are qualified to talk about weight training. Have fun in the gym and make sure that you follow the tips above to create a body that is healthy and sexy and that will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Will Lifting Weights Stunt My Growth?