Depending on their levels of maturity and development, some young boys might be ready to tackle a strength training program, says Dr. Joe Chorley, an adolescent sports medicine specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Some may be very mature at age 9 or 10, so it has more to do with how the child looks at the activity. If, for example, growth plates in the wrist, shoulder and knee responsible for the length and width of bones are damaged, the child might not reach his full height. To keep weight-lifting injuries at a minimum, Chorley suggests that parents provide adequate supervision and find a gym that offers smaller machines that can better accommodate a child's body.
Proper technique is also key.
Chorley stresses, however, that strength training can involve more than working with weights. Strength training can help adolescent boys physically and mentally. They tend to be less anxious and have more self-confidence. All Rights Reserved.