“Lifting" Misconceptions Of Strength Trainning For Children And Three Tips To Get Started

Many parents question if strength training is appropriate and safe for their children. Rest assured, a well-designed resistance training program is not only harmless for pre-adolescent and adolescent children, but it can provide tremendous health, wellness and sports performance benefits. Strength training and conditioning can help kids who've been sidelined with an injury get back on track, and prevent injuries for those on the field.

Here are tips from the Nationwide Children's Hospital Sports Performance Training program to get your child started with conditioning activities -- a game-changer when it comes to both confidence and strength.

Determine how early your kid can start. By the time children reach middle school, they are likely mature enough to begin a structured training regimen. The American Academy of Pediatrics evenrecommends strength training for kids ages eight and older. Muscular strength and power can be significantly enhanced when children are exposed to a variety of resistance training. For pre-adolescents, increased strength is generally due to neurological factors and improvements in the coordination of muscle groups. As children enter puberty, their hormonal environment markedly changes and their ability to gain muscle mass greatly increases.

Help your kid see the benefit. While many kids like to spend their "time off" playing video games or watching television, they can get a bigger thrill from feeling themselves run faster, jump higher and perform better in their sport. Strength training can lead to a reduced risk for injuries, improved body composition and cardiovascular risk profile, as well as enhanced motor skills.

Find the right coach. Look for someone who has credentials to train, has a background working with children, is willing to demonstrate proper technique and can speak to children in a way they understand. Ultimately, they are responsible for minimizing risk and maximizing the results of strength training programs designed specifically with kids' goals in mind. If they are trying to improve performance for school sports, training sessions should be tailored to the demands of the specific sport whether it's football, swimming or cheerleading.

Ready to "lift" your child's performance and confidence? Check out local sports performance programs, look for nearby youth sports medicine practices or ask your child's coach for recommendations.