Topic: THE THORN IN THE SIDE OF USA WEIGHTLIFTING

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

The American Academy of Pediatrics makes the following recommendations on strength training for youth:

1. Strength training programs for preadolescents and adolescents can be safe and effective if proper resistance training techniques and safety precautions are followed.
2. Preadolescents and adolescents should avoid competitive weight lifting, power lifting, body building, and maximal lifts until they reach physical and skeletal maturity.
3. When pediatricians are asked to recommend or evaluate strength training programs for children and adolescents, the following issues should be considered:
 *Before beginning a formal strength training program, a medical evaluation should be performed by a pediatrician. If indicated, a referral may be made to a sports medicine physician who is familiar with various strength training methods as well as risks and benefits in preadolescents and adolescents.
 *Aerobic conditioning should be coupled with resistance training if general health benefits are the goal.
 *Strength training programs should include a warm-up and cool-down component.
 *Specific strength training exercises should be learned initially with no load (resistance). Once the exercise skill has been mastered, incremental loads can be added.
 *Progressive resistance exercise requires successful completion of 8 to 15 repetitions in good form before increasing weight or resistance.
 *A general strengthening program should address all major muscle groups and exercise through the complete range of motion.
 *Any sign of injury or illness from strength training should be evaluated before continuing the exercise in question.
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;107/6/1470

So, our problem is clear. Pediatricians want to "play it safe" until there is more data to indicate the safety level of our sport in the youngest age divisions (to prevent getting sued). I think they also recommend that kids not be exposed, ever, for more than like 10 minutes to the sun without sunscreen or some such ridiculousness. Of course, such a policy means that we can get no more data than we already have which, at this point, indicates one of the lowest injury rates of all competitive sports (See http://www.weightliftingexchange.com/viewtopic.php?t=1791 for references). But, in the face of pediatricians taking this position across our country, all other research (NSCA, ACSM, etc) is easily trumped. When someone pulls this article out, you have lost no matter how large the stack of evidence on our side.

So, the IWF has made a rule forbidding under 13 year olds in international competition and left it up to each country to determine policy within its own country. Why? My guess is that they are simply recognizing that some countries are much more prone to have lawsuits on the matter than others. Its probably not a big concern is Russia or Bulgaria or China, for instance, where the sport is highly popular and lawsuits less so. So, what can we do about it? Of course, we can still train our 'youngens' and at the moment they can still compete locally. But, is it really realistic for our organization to include this age group in competitions- when upon any injury, and injuries do happen in all sports and age groups within them, they could find themselves in court with the American Academy of Pediatricians saying we are wrong, perhaps even negligent since they have already published their recommendations?

Further, would it really be responsible to include these kids in national competitions at 12 and under, understanding that an irresponsible, reckless, and/or incompetent coach really could injure kids? It seems like perhaps not having them in national meets may be the only way to go. After all, they can still train and even compete locally. But, there is much less pressure to cut bodyweight, make qualifying totals, compete for medals, make totals for camps/squads, get press, please coaches and family, etc. Perhaps just slowing all that pressure down a little is not such a bad idea after all. It will all come in time if the motivation is adequate, and if it is not adequate to stick with it through what should be the "play years" then they are probably not going to be highly successful junior and especially senior lifters. These are tough issues for us to struggle with, and I have no set opinions on what is the 'best' course of action. What do you think?

[Paul LaDuke]

As a CSCS and an ATC, I see both sides of the issue and offer this opinion:

As a strength coach (certified since 1992), I believe that weightlifting and strength training is very safe for young kids as long as there is qualified coaching and constant qualified supervision.

As an athletic trainer (certified since 1995) working in a HS and MS, I am becoming overwhelmed by the number of overuse injuries at the MS level.  During last track season, I was seeing several of these athletes with severe shin splints, knee pain, back pain, etc.  While interviewing the athlete to get some history, I find that they are participating in 2 and 3 sports at a time.  The schedule was something like this: school - 7:45am to 2:45pm; track - 3:00-4:15; soccer - 5pm to 7pm.  And then a few were going to dance after that!  This amount of physical work for a 13 yo is lunacy.  The parents are idiots!  Overuse injuries normally reserved for 30 year olds are now being seen in American middle schools.  This is becoming a national epidemic and these young athletes will pay in the near future with major orthopedic problems.  Something must be done about the epidemic.

The Pediatric MDs have issued that statement presumably in response to the overwhelming patient load they are getting due to participation in athletics.  But to state "Preadolescents and adolescents should avoid competitive weight lifting, power lifting, body building, and maximal lifts until they reach physical and skeletal maturity" is not going to do anything to the real problem.  I agree with the MDs that young athletes should not lift weights but I would add "without qualified, nationally certified coaches present".  Weightlifting is one of the safest sports to compete in and is one of the most beneficial to participate in for long term health.  IMHO, pediatricians are missing the real problem which is unqualified coaches for all sports and participating in more than 1 athletic team at a time.

Respectfully submitted.

[Matt Denslinger]

2. Preadolescents and adolescents should avoid competitive weight lifting, power lifting, body building, and maximal lifts until they reach physical and skeletal maturity.

Personally, I think this is pretty dumb. Weightlifting is pretty safe with proper guidance/coaching, but I do see where they are coming from.

Of course, you also don't want to force the sport upon them.

While interviewing the athlete to get some history, I find that they are participating in 2 and 3 sports at a time.

Yeah, I don't know why they are doing 2 or 3 at a time or even if they want to. I agree that is a lot of work physically for a 13 yr old. Training methods also have to be looked at too.  


IMHO, pediatricians are missing the real problem which is unqualified coaches for all sports and participating in more than 1 athletic team at a time.


Ha, I remember the trainer at my highschool. He couldn't even teach the squat correctly.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Of course, I agree that this "position statement" is, simply put, a piece of garbage. Its recommendations are vague and utterly ridiculous. It takes no account for individual situations and really is a mockery of their profession, in my humble opinion. They have the arrogance to make, pretty much, binding recommendations on our sport when they don't even know enough to realize weightlifting is one word! They know nothing about our sport and are simply protecting themselves, which is understandable when you know or care nothing about something. But, try to say that to a parent, administrator, selfish other-sport coach that doesn't want to share time, or a lawyer. As soon as you try to debate a position statement by the "Academy of American Pediatricians" you will loose credibility.

Perhaps we (meaning the USAW) could try and approach this organization to seek compromise (a new position statement). Is it necessary? Or are they right, in a way they don't realize? Is it really a big deal for kids less than 13 years old to have to wait to compete in national competitions? Well, it is if we want the ultimate results possible at Junior Words, I believe. But, an aggressive course WILL produce injuries. So if we take the aggressive course, how do we defend those injuries? How do we defend those coaches that encounter them or encounter "over-protective" adults?

[Mike Wittmer]

I guess we can assume that a "committee" of pediatric MDs came up with that position statement.   It would be interesting to poll these members and see what percentage of them actually know what a snatch is.  I suppose, to the uninformed, they have some credibility just by the virtue of their degrees.  These individuals must be highly respected in the field of exercise and physical conditioning.  I suppose the local school district looked to them for help in setting up the PE program at our local high schools.  That would include one semester of PE in each of the first two years of high school.  The kids will be overweight diabetics but they'll have good knees.  

I've been working on doing a study that will look into the claim that weightlifting is harmful to young bodies, joints in particular.  The plan is to do an MRI on the wrist or lumbar spine of 13-15 y/o weightlifters, probably with three years or more of training experience.  Of course, a control group of non-lifters will be needed.  And, they might have to separated by gender.  

As might be expected, money ($30-40k) is the issue.  That, and getting a significant number in the study groups.  I don't see it happening.

I wonder if the fear of lawsuits is the real reason for eliminating the under 13s.  Perhaps, we'll find out somewhere in the future.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Mike,

An interesting concept, but how will you control for 'bad coaching'?

[Mike Wittmer]

Do you mean in the study?

I don't see how.  But, do we take every 17 y/o off the highway because a few may have had bad "coaching?"  Or no coaching?

I think if it showed that a significant group of young weightlifters, having trained for a significant length of time, demonstrated no evidence of joint damage, then it would be reasonable to assume that weightlifting is safe.  

Has anyone ever seen a 13 y/o fracture/dislocate an ankle sliding into second base?  I have.  In spite of having had good coaching and in spite of having done it correctly in the past?  Do we ban baseball?  Do we ban sliding?

[Jack Dluzen]

hhhmmmmm. in the last  say three years  my step son has played lacrosse , indoor and out door . and ive seen a lot of different injuries . its astonoshing !  knees , shoulder separations , concusions broken fingers ,  and theses kids , are 13 to 16 yrs .. also the agreesion is supposed to be kept to  a minumum, , wich is not !  is see slashes to the heads and bodys , wich is illegal .  , i reallt get frustarated .  when i talk to the coaches about  getting the kids  into some  weight traing, they say oh thata to dangeruos and not good for  them . well ive been, o/l  lifting since i was 14 lifted in j/o's ,teenage, and others . all ive had was a , slight shoulder  dislocation snatching . and a minor back pull . and im 50 now and  doing good . with no injuies! but i go to these , games a see all the crap ,  p.s paul . the  fight was at the( lanco. feild house .) in lancaster ,  the one kid got knocked out cold!!  the ref didnt even try to stop t they were standing right there ,   hey in not citing this sport only its in ,  kids  baseball , football and soccer , and they say our sport isnt good for kids ,lol jusyt venting guys! :wink: