RESISTANCE TRAINING DURING PREADOLESCENCE - ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

High intensity resistance training appears to be effective in increasi ng strength in preadolescents. Children make similar relative (percent age improvement), but smaller absolute, strength gains compared with a dolescents and young adults in response to similar resistance training programmes. Resistance training appears to have little if any effect on muscle size, and strength gains during training have been associate d with increases in levels of neuromuscular activation and changes in intrinsic contractile characteristics of muscle. Although unsubstantia ted, improved motor coordination probably also contributes to the incr ease in strength, especially for more complex strength manoeuvres. On the basis of limited information, training-induced strength gains are lost during detraining, and the decay in strength has been associated with a reduction in neuromuscular activation. Short term resistance tr aining appears to have no effect on somatic growth (height or weight) and body composition, and no proven positive influence on sports perfo rmance, injury rate or recovery from injury during, preadolescence. We ightlifting has proved injurious to some children. especially when uns upervised and without instruction in proper weightlifting technique an d load selection. In contrast, the risk of injury from prudently presc ribed and closely supervised resistance training appears to be low dur ing preadolescence. Lastly, short term resistance training appears to have no detrimental effect during preadolescence on either cardiorespi ratory fitness or resting blood pressure.