B&G Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport 2021; 37(02): 47-51
DOI: 10.1055/a-1378-3385
Wissenschaft

The Promise of Youth Resistance Training

Avery D Faigenbaum
1   Department of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey, USA
,
Stephan Geisler
2   Department of Fitness and Health Science, IST – University of Applied Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations

Summary

Global health reports indicate that a vast majority of children and adolescents are not accumulating the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. This decline in MVPA has coincided with troubling temporal trends in muscular fitness in modern day youth. Since a prerequisite level of muscular strength is needed to move proficiently, developmentally appropriate interventions that target neuromuscular deficits are needed to prepare girls and boys for ongoing participation in active play, exercise and sport activities. Instead of focusing exclusively on aerobic activities, the promotion of youth physical activity should recognize the shared importance of strength, skill and aerobic activities for all youth regardless of body size or physical prowess. In addition to enhancing muscular fitness and improving motor skill performance, regular participation in resistance training has been found to have a favorable influence on musculoskeletal strength, cardiometabolic function, body composition, and mental health in children and adolescents. A new mindset that recognizes the critical importance of strength-building activities early in life is needed before this generation of girls and boys becomes resistant to exercise interventions later in life.

Zusammenfassung

Globale Gesundheitsberichte deuten darauf hin, dass die große Mehrheit der Jugend nicht die empfohlene Menge an moderater bis intensiver körperlicher Aktivität täglich erreicht. Dieser Rückgang an Aktivität stimmt mit den beunruhigenden Entwicklungen der muskulären Fitness der heutigen Jugend überein. Da ein bestimmtes Maß an Muskelkraft erforderlich ist, um sich effizient bewegen zu können, sind entwicklungsgerechte Interventionen erforderlich, die auf neuromuskuläre Defizite abzielen, um Mädchen und Jungen auf eine kontinuierliche Teilnahme an aktiven Spiel-, Bewegungs- und Sportaktivitäten vorzubereiten. Anstatt sich ausschließlich auf aerobe Aktivitäten zu konzentrieren, sollte die Förderung der körperlichen Aktivität von Kindern und Jugendlichen die gemeinsame Bedeutung von Kraft-, Geschicklichkeits- und aeroben Aktivitäten für alle anerkennen, unabhängig von Körpergröße und körperlichen Fähigkeiten. Neben der Steigerung der muskulären Fitness und der Verbesserung der motorischen Leistungsfähigkeit hat die regelmäßige Teilnahme am Krafttraining auch einen positiven Einfluss auf die Körperzusammensetzung und die psychische Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen. Eine neue Denkweise, die die kritische Bedeutung von kraftbildenden Aktivitäten in jungen Jahren anerkennt, ist notwendig, bevor diese Generation von Mädchen und Jungen später im Leben resistent gegen Bewegungsinterventionen wird.



Publication History

Received: 18 December 2020

Accepted: 20 December 2020

Article published online:
16 April 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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