Resistance Training for Children and Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (02) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
Avery D Faigenbaum ◽  
Stephan Geisler

SummaryGlobal health reports indicate that a vast majority of children and adolescents are not accumulating the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. This decline in MVPA has coincided with troubling temporal trends in muscular fitness in modern day youth. Since a prerequisite level of muscular strength is needed to move proficiently, developmentally appropriate interventions that target neuromuscular deficits are needed to prepare girls and boys for ongoing participation in active play, exercise and sport activities. Instead of focusing exclusively on aerobic activities, the promotion of youth physical activity should recognize the shared importance of strength, skill and aerobic activities for all youth regardless of body size or physical prowess. In addition to enhancing muscular fitness and improving motor skill performance, regular participation in resistance training has been found to have a favorable influence on musculoskeletal strength, cardiometabolic function, body composition, and mental health in children and adolescents. A new mindset that recognizes the critical importance of strength-building activities early in life is needed before this generation of girls and boys becomes resistant to exercise interventions later in life.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-396
Author(s):  
Kirsten Legerlotz

Many parents still hesitate to encourage their children to participate in resistance training programs. This is unfortunate since recent research shows that resistance training can positively affect children’s health. This narrative review aims to present an overview of the health-associated effects resistance training can provide particularly in children and adolescents with disabilities by describing its effects on muscle strength, physical function, mental health, self-concept, obesity, and injury prevention. To illustrate the variety of possible fields of application, the effects of resistance training in children and adolescents suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, joint hypermobility, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, obesity, and spina bifida are discussed. Although randomized controlled trials with a sufficiently large sample size are rare, the research presented in this review indicates that this mode of training might be a potent tool to improve mental and physical health by improving muscle strength, body composition, self-concept or functionality, reducing pain or injury risk, and strengthening bone or tendons even in the most vulnerable groups of children with physical or mental disability. Furthermore, it has to be emphasized that compared with other types of treatment resistance training is considered to be without adverse effects.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (6) ◽  
pp. e20201011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Stricker ◽  
Avery D. Faigenbaum ◽  
Teri M. McCambridge ◽  

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Behringer ◽  
Andreas vom Heede ◽  
Maria Matthews ◽  
Joachim Mester

The recent literature delineates resistance training in children and adolescents to be effective and safe. However, only little is known about the transfer of achieved strength gains to athletic performance. The present meta-analysis revealed a combined mean effect size for motor skill types jumping, running, and throwing of 0.52 (95% CI: 0.33–0.71). Effect sizes for each of aforementioned skill types separately were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.34–0.74), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.23–0.83), and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.19–1.79) respectively. Furthermore, it could be shown that younger subjects and nonathletes showed higher gains in motor performance following resistance training than their counterparts and that specific resistance training regimes were not advantageous over traditional resistance training programs. Finally, a positive dose response relationship for “intensity” could be found in subgroups using traditional training regimens. These results emphasize that resistance training provides an effective way for enhancing motor performance in children and adolescents.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison M. Myers ◽  
Nicholas W. Beam ◽  
Joseph D. Fakhoury

Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 202-208
Author(s):  
Belén Lagares Vázquez ◽  
Jose Antonio Rebollo

  El objetivo de este estudio fue realizar una revisión sistemática para conocer el estado actual de los efectos del entrenamiento de fuerza a partir de dispositivos elásticos en niños y adolescentes. La búsqueda se realizó en las bases de datos Web of Science y Pubmed. De los 38 resultados iniciales, se seleccionaron 8 artículos que cumplían los criterios de elegibilidad establecidos con anterioridad. Para realizar esta revisión sistemática se empleó la declaración PRISMA. Los resultados mostraron mejoras en la fuerza muscular y en diversas variables de salud y rendimiento. El entrenamiento con estos dispositivos obtuvo mejoras en la capacidad de sprint, salto vertical, cambio de dirección y sentadilla. Además, también se hallaron mejoras en la composición corporal, en el equilibrio, en la prevención de lesiones y una mayor adherencia al programa de ejercicio físico. En la actualidad existe una disminución de la fuerza muscular en población infantil y adolescente a nivel mundial. Esta situación puede derivar en problemas adversos para la salud. El entrenamiento de fuerza con bandas elástica se presenta como una herramienta útil y eficaz tanto en el contexto escolar como deportivo. No obstante, son necesarios más estudios que muestren los beneficios del entrenamiento de fuerza a partir de este recurso con el fin de establecer estrategias para mejorar la salud y calidad de vida en esta población.  Abstract. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review to determine the current status of the effects of resistance training using elastic devices in children and adolescents. The search was performed in the Web of Science and Pubmed databases. Of the 38 initial results, 8 articles were selected that met the previously established eligibility criteria. The PRISMA statement was used to conduct this systematic review. The results showed improvements in muscle strength and in various health and performance variables. Training with these devices obtained improvements in sprint, vertical jump, change of direction and squat. In addition, improvements in body composition, balance, injury prevention and increased adherence to the physical exercise programme were also found. There is currently a worldwide decline in muscle strength in children and adolescents. This situation can lead to adverse health problems. Strength training with elastic bands is presented as a useful and effective tool in both school and sports contexts. However, more studies are needed to show the benefits of strength training from this resource in order to establish strategies to improve health and quality of life in this population.


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