Which Exercises at the Gym Can Stunt Your Growth Height?
Weightlifting exercises, such as squats, deadlifts, bench press, and overhead press, are often touted as being essential for building muscle and strength. However, these exercises can also put excessive stress on the growth plates of young athletes, which can lead to premature closure and stunt growth.
What are Growth Plates?
Growth plates are areas of cartilage located at the ends of long bones. They are responsible for the growth of bones in length. During puberty, growth plates are very active, allowing for rapid growth. However, if these plates are damaged or closed prematurely, it can lead to stunted growth.
How Weightlifting Can Stunt Growth
Weightlifting exercises can put excessive stress on the growth plates, causing them to close prematurely. This is especially true for exercises that involve heavy weights or repetitive movements. For example, squats can put a lot of stress on the growth plates in the knees, while deadlifts can put stress on the growth plates in the spine.
Who is at Risk?
Young athletes who are still growing are most at risk for stunted growth from weightlifting. This is because their growth plates are still very active and vulnerable to damage.
What Exercises to Avoid
To avoid the risk of stunted growth, young athletes should avoid exercises that put excessive stress on the growth plates. These exercises include:
- Squats
- Deadlifts
- Bench press
- Overhead press
- Military press
FAQs
- Can all weightlifting exercises stunt growth? No, only exercises that put excessive stress on the growth plates can stunt growth.
- What exercises are safe for young athletes? Young athletes should focus on exercises that do not put excessive stress on the growth plates, such as swimming, running, and cycling.
- When can young athletes start weightlifting? Young athletes should wait until they have reached puberty and their growth plates have closed before starting weightlifting.
- What if a young athlete has already stunted their growth? If a young athlete has already stunted their growth, there is no way to reverse the damage.
- Can other factors stunt growth? Yes, other factors such as malnutrition, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical conditions can also stunt growth.
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