Fredericksburg.com – Heather Traves
“Let’s begin by first establishing the difference between weight lifting and strength training. Many people use these two terms interchangeably, but there is a difference and it’s really important as it applies to kids’ fitness. Strength training focuses on improving overall strength and conditioning through low-weight, high-repetition exercise. Weight lifting is typically driven by competition, with participants seeking to lift heavier and heavier weights to increase mass. The progressive weight used in weight lifting generally puts too much strain on muscles, tendons and growth plates in children, and the risk of injury is very high. So if you want your child to gain strength, a low- weight, high-repetition program is the safest and most effective way to go…If you do decide to help your child with a strength training program, it’s always advisable to talk to your pediatrician about it first.”(more)