Can Lifting Weights Stunt Your Growth

A lot of people think that lifting weights stunts your growth height. It is so widely accepted as true, because it seems like a perfectly plausible explanation. If stretching and other limb lengthening exercises help increase your height, any pressure applied the other way should decrease it, right?

Busting The Myth
Well, not quite! The body really doesn't work that way. Your body will grow as much as it was supposed to (depending on your genetics), irrespective of the exercise. Sure, you can push your body a bit with some limb lengthening exercises, but there is no evidence that weightlifting routines stunt your growth. So, don't fret! But when your bones are growing, they are a little soft, so it is not advisable to put undue pressure on them. But, doing regular weightlifting exercises will not affect their growth. It is essential exercise, but do so in moderation till your bones are over with their growth stage. And being a beginner to a heavy weights workout, it is always advisable that you work out with the correct technique and perfect form, so make sure you have a reliable trainer to teach you the right way. Powerlifting workouts, on the other hand, may be bad for teens. Remember the formula: Take as much weight, as you can do at least 10 reps with.

Weightlifting Care for Teens
Having said that it is not true that lifting weights stunts growth, there are certain safety tips that teens have to keep in mind when they start workouts with heavy weights. The bones are still in the growth stage and hence, they may be susceptible to injury. Hence, it is essential that you take care of your body.

• Do not start on an unreasonably tough workout routine. Start small. You can start with cardiovascular workouts for beginners. It is essential that you condition your bones and body to an exercise program and not jump into it directly. For beginners, running and swimming are the two best exercises. Once your body starts getting used to it, then start a weightlifting workout.
• Even then, certain care needs to be taken. Always work with heavy weights around a qualified trainer. What you learn when you are young stays with you for the rest of your life and hence, it is essential that your learn the basics correctly. Always ensure that you concentrate on the perfect form of the workout. Make sure that you move your body perfectly. Repeatedly doing the wrong motion, may cause lasting damage to your bones and joints. Also, concentrate on increasing your stamina and endurance. It will work in your favor later on, when you go for hardcore programs.
• Teens also tend to get carried away, while doing weightlifting workouts. They tend to watch others take more weights for their workouts and feel that they too can take such weights. But, it is essential to explain to your teen that some people are built differently than others and hence, can take more weights and trying to compete with them will only be detrimental to their bone health.
• Lastly, teens are still in their growth stage and hence, they can focus on exercises which will help them grow taller. They can try limb lengthening exercises and grow taller. It is essential that kids use their teenage for growing taller, as this is the only time in their life that they can! They have the rest of their lives left to grow 'wider'!

No study has been able to effectively establish the detrimental effect that weight training can have on teens. But make sure that you take care, while doing your workouts and follow the instructions of a qualified trainer.