| | | NEWS | | |  Fact - Data suggests that children (as early as 7 ) and adolescents involved in a supervised strength training program may actually benefit an increase in bone mineralization compared to age matched control groups. Researchers suggest that this childhood age may be an appropriate time for the bone modeling and remodeling process to respond to increased resistance thus reducing the chance for future injury, and may be very important for young girls how carry risk factors of osteopenia or osteoporosis. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the National Strength and Conditioning Association suggest that youth strength training can be safe and worth while activity for young weight trainers provided that the program is appropriately designed and competently supervised.
Taken from Clinics in Sports Medicine volume 19, issue 4 October 2000, Strength Training for Children and Adolescents, A Very D.Faigenbaum, EdD.
Can strength training at a young age improve sports performance?
Researchers have found that children who participated unsupervised strength training programs had significant improvements in sprint speed, agility time, vertical jump and long jump. Data representing sport skills improvements resulting from strength training programs is not well documented. However, research (Pfeiffer and Francis) has reported children participating in Olympic lifting (i.e., snatch and clean and jerk) showed significant gains in isokenetic shoulder flexion after 8 weeks of training. Most data on this subject has come from coaches, parents and athletes. Unfortunately, the "more is better" attitude is still common. Clearly, Strength training should not simply be added onto a young athlete's training program but rather incorporated into a periodized conditioning program that varies in volume and intensity throughout the year.
Strength training during childhood and adolescence may provide not only a foundation for dramatic strength gains during adulthood, but, as children and adolescence gain self confidence in their physical abilities they may be more likely to experience success and less likely to drop of sports. Taken from Clinics in Sports Medicine volume 19, issue 4 October 2000, Strength Training for Children and Adolescents, Avery
D. Faigenbaum, EdD.
Can strength training help reduce my chances for an injury? It appears that the focus of most youth programs is on the development of sport-specific skills rather than on the development of fundamental fitness abilities. Instead of participating in a variety of sports, children and adolescents are participating in the same activity for longer periods. Some coaches and parents have argued that early sports-specialization was the key to success, but is now appears that broadly based participation in a variety of skills and activities is related more to later sports success than early sports specialization. Emphasizing sports skills over fundamental fitness abilities not only discriminates against children and adolescents whose motor skills are not as developed, but it also may lead to acute (macro trauma) and repetitive micro trauma, or overuse injuries (e.g., stress fractures, tendinitis, and bursitis) According to the American Collage of Sports Medicine, an estimated 50% of overuse injuries sustained by young athletes could be prevented if more emphasis were placed on the development of fundamental fitness skills, as opposed to sport specific training. Because youth athletes often are forced to train longer and harder to excel in their sports, encouraging them to participate in conditioning programs that prepare them for the demands of their sport merits consideration. Encouraging children and adolescents to participate in preparatory conditioning (which includes strength, aerobic, and flexibility training) prior to sports-specific training seems to be reasonable recommendation.
Taken from Clinics in Sports Medicine volume 19, issue 4 October 2000, Strength Training for Children and Adolescents, Avery
D. Faigenbaum, EdD.
| Our Strength & Conditioning programs are the choice training method for collegiate, professional, and junior Olympic athletes. Athletes are first taken through the Reebok Functional Movement Screen. These programs incorporate neuromuscular training with emphasis on proven movement specific and velocity specific techniques. The focus is on the athlete's movement patterns, not individual muscles. Our training techniques enhance neuromuscular control and educate muscle groups to function not faster, but more efficiently.
Speed Development Protocol The staff of PSA believes that the development of speed is a "skill". In order to address the concepts and parameters necessary to enhance speed we first identify the neuromuscular needs of each individual athlete. Once identified, the inappropriate movement patterns are then addressed through qualitative exercises and training mechanics. Speed strength, speed endurance, and speed power are then targeted according to the ATHLETE, the sport and the position. Building a sound foundation of "movement based applications" is the cornerstone of ECA's speed development programs. Youth Development
Strength Training for Adolescent and Pre-Adolescent Athletes How can children or adolescents benefit from a strength and conditioning program? Recent research has shown evidence of strength gains ranging from 30-40% on average. Separate study researchers found strength gains of up to 74% following only 8 weeks of training. Physicians and therapists agree the evidence proves that a properly designed strength training program can enhance the strength of preadolescences further than what is normally the result of growth and maturation. Clinics in Sports Medicine volume 19, issue 4 October 2000, Strength Training for Children and Adolescents, Avery D. Faigenbaum, EdD. Can weight training damage a young athlete's growth plates? Fact - Current observations indicate no evidence of a decrease in stature in children and adolescents who participate in well-designed youth strength training programs. In all like hood, if age - specific training guidelines are followed and if nutritional recommendations (e.g., calcium) are adhered to, physical activity (including strength training) will have a favorable influence on growth at any stage of development and will not influence genotype maximum. | | |
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