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Strength training for prepubescent males: is it safe?

C B Rians1, A Weltman, B R Cahill

  • 1Center for Sports Medicine and Health Fitness, Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|September 1, 1987
PubMed
Summary
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Supervised concentric strength training showed significant strength gains in prepubescent males with a low injury rate. This training did not negatively impact growth, development, flexibility, or motor performance in the short term.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Exercise Science
  • Sports Medicine
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Assessing the safety and efficacy of strength training in prepubescent children is crucial for guiding youth athletic development.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of resistance training on young athletes' physical development and injury risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a supervised, concentric-focused strength training program in prepubescent males.
  • To investigate the effects of this training on strength, growth, development, flexibility, and motor performance.

Main Methods:

  • Eighteen prepubescent males (average age 8.3 years) underwent a 14-week supervised strength training program (3 sessions/week).
  • Safety was assessed via injury surveillance, physiological monitoring (blood pressure, heart rate), scintigraphy, and creatine phosphokinase levels.

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  • Strength gains were measured using KinCom analysis, compared against an age, sex, and activity-matched control group.

    • Main Results:

    • Significant strength gains were observed in the training group (P < 0.05), while the control group showed no improvement.
    • The training program exhibited a low injury rate.
    • No adverse effects were noted on bone, muscle, epiphyses, growth, development, flexibility, or motor performance in the short term.

    Conclusions:

    • Supervised concentric strength training can lead to strength improvements in prepubescent males without compromising physical development or increasing injury risk in the short term.
    • The multifaceted nature of safety necessitates further research before concluding uniform safety for all prepubescent strength training.
    • This study provides evidence supporting the potential benefits of structured, supervised strength training for young athletes.