The demand for children’s fitness programs has even led to a health club in Chicago that is exclusively for kids. It plans to open franchises in other cities. A key part of these programs is strength training to improve muscles and build bones. Although strength training was long thought to be unnecessary—and perhaps even unsafe—for children, current research shows that if done correctly it’s beneficial for all ages, from kids to seniors.
What’s Strength Training?
Moving against resistance, such as when you lift weights or do push-ups, are types of strength training. This is not the same as body-building, an adult competitive sport. Girls who shun the idea of lifting weights for fear of developing bulging muscles shouldn’t worry. Their bodies don’t have the hormones necessary for it. Strength training is especially important for helping girls build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis later in life. A strength training program includes a series of exercises aimed at increasing the strength, endurance, and power of muscles. Kids who do this will be less likely to be injured in sports and will have more stamina when they play. Research shows kids ages 7 to 12 can increase their strength by approximately 40 percent in an 8- to 12-week program of two or three weekly sessions.
