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Too Much, Too Young?
Dear Tony,
I’ve been exercising for my entire adult life. My daughter practically grew up at daycare in my healthclub! I used to compete in Ms. Fitness contests when she was little and she’d sit on my husband’s shoulders clapping and cheering for me, yelling "mommy, mommy!" When she was about 11 she started coming to some classes with me, and doing a little weight training. She is almost 13 years old now, and becoming more body conscious, and she wants to begin training in earnest. I’d love to workout with her, but is it safe?
Kimberly C., Meyers, Alabama |
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Dear Kimberly:
Back in the days when people believed that muscle would turn into fat, they also believed that weight training at too early an age would stunt a child’s growth. Not true. To the contrary, weight training at an early age is safer than playing most sports!
Stunted growth is caused by damage to the growth (epiphysical) plates. Injury to the growth plates can cause bone deformity, but there is little risk of this occurring in weight training compared to other sports. Premature closing of the growth plates is related primarily to hormonal influences, rather than injury.
As a competitor yourself, your daughter probably has a desire to compete in some type of sport. Today’s top sports physiologists recommend weight training to begin by age ten for girls. Now that women are competing in so many Previously male-dominated sports, statistics show they have a higher rate of injuries than their male counterparts, especially to the knee. Some authorities believe this is because girls, in general, are less active and physically intense than boys, and therefore begin sports with less coordination and strength.
So Kim, get your daughter, head for the gym, and enjoy every minute of it!
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Ask Tony articles are reprinted by permission of Ms. Fitness magazine at P.O. Box 2490, White City, OR 97503. Ms. Fitness® is a registered trademark of Wally Boyko Productions, Inc., in the USA, Canada, European Union and other countries. All rights reserved. Wally Boyko Productions, Inc. P.O. Box 2490 White City, OR 97503 USA 1.541.830.0400 |
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