Teen Boys in Weight Training
During the past several decades, a stigma was attached to youths weight-training, largely because of studies in the early 1970s that showed child laborers suffered from stunted growth because of excessive physical labor. However, more recent research has debunked that theory and confirmed that weight training during adolescence can have some positive effects on both the physiological and psychological health of a teen.
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Recent Studies
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A study published in "The American Journal of Pediatrics" that cross-examined 42 other studies from 1949 to 2009 indicates that weight training might benefit teen health. The main purpose of the study was to examine the influence of age and maturity on the effectiveness of progressive resistance training among children and adolescents. Resistance training is defined in the study as a type of exercise that requires the musculature to contract against an opposing force such as body weight, barbells, dumbbells or a weight machine. Researchers did not find an increase in strength gains with hormones as previously thought, but discovered that muscular growth in adolescents follows a linear pattern. A 2010 article at NYTimes.com cites a study performed by the Institute of Training Science and Sports Informatics in Cologne, Germany, that found that almost without exception, children benefited from weight training, with teens in particular making the most gains.
Effects of Weight Training
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Strength training can increase endurance and strength in young people, according to MayoClinic.com. They recommend using controlled movements with light resistance and proper technique for best results. Weight training in teens might lead to stronger bones, healthier blood levels and increased self-esteem. In addition, weight training works to provide a muscular, skeletal foundation that leads to a decreased risk for sports injuries.
Duration of Weight Training
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Shorter training periods in adolescence are associated with gains in neuromuscular communication, but no real strength gains. However, results indicated that longer periods of strength training might lead to hypertrophy, or muscle strength in teens, according to a 2010 article in the journal "Pediatrics." Training two to three times per week will also result in a positive growth, according to the study. More training sessions per week are associated with higher strength gains after resistance training, and longer workouts are more productive than shorter ones.
Considerations
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According to the Yale Medical Group, teens should ̶0;train for the right reasons,̶1; such as to improve their physical health or sports performance and focus on toning muscle, not putting on bulk. Teen boys who weight-train should find an instructor to teach them correct form in order to avoid injury and achieve maximum gains. The Australian Sports Commission recommends using progressive overload by increasing the amount of resistance or training frequency to continually increase musculature and avoid injury. In addition, they state that young people who train should focus on moderate intensity, maximum recovery and technique.
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