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- $Unique_ID{BRK01670}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Weight Lifting and the Young Athlete}
- $Subject{exercise weight lifting teenager Musculoskeletal System Connective
- Tissue Young Athlete athletes power lift cartilage bones bone teenagers
- teenage teen teens exercises exercising Younger Athletic Athletics youth
- youths adolescent adolescents}
- $Volume{M-23}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Weight Lifting and the Young Athlete
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- QUESTION: I am almost 13, but am very big for my age. I have already decided
- that I want to be a professional athlete. I know that all athletes train and
- I want to start by lifting weights. My father doesn't want me to do this now,
- and has refused to give me the money to buy the weights I need to practice at
- home. I want you to write a column to tell him he is wrong, and that training
- is a good and healthy thing to do.
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- ANSWER: I am all for activities that help promote "good and healthy" living,
- but also believe that a little politeness, a "please" or two gets more results
- than just demanding something one thinks is right. If you are talking to your
- Dad in the same tone your letter to me has, I can understand his reluctance to
- pop for a set of weights. However, the simple medical fact is that your Dad
- is right in refusing you, whatever his reasons may be. While training is
- always a good idea for someone who desires to be a professional athlete,
- lifting weights at your age is a definite no-no, despite your size. According
- to a recent statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics, power lifting,
- weight lifting and body building should not start before a stage in
- development that occurs about the age of 15. In addition, all training
- programs of this nature should be conducted by professional or trained coaches
- who know how to evaluate the maturity of the young athlete, and plan a program
- with that in mind. Otherwise there are many dangers. They include fractures
- through the growing cartilage of the still immature bones, low back injury,
- and injury to the cartilage disks located between the bones of the spinal
- column. Since there is some controversy on this matter, I will admit that
- there may be different opinions available from others, but I tend to be
- extremely conservative where the health of young people is concerned. I
- suggest you discuss this further with your Dad, get some professional counsel
- from a good coach, and hold your horses just a bit until your body is ready to
- take you where your mind has decided to go.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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