Relative Safety of Weightlifting Movements for Youth

SUMMARY APPROPRIATELY SUPERVISED AND WELL-DESIGNED RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS CAN BE SAFE AND BENEFICIAL FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (3,4,7). THERE REMAINS CONCERN THAT SELECTED RESISTANCE EXERCISES, WEIGHTLIFTING MOVEMENTS AND MODIFIED CLEANS, PULLS AND PRESSES, MAY BE POTENTIALLY INJURIOUS. THIS COLUMN WILL REVIEW THE AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE REGARDING THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF WEIGHTLIFTING MOVEMENTS FOR YOUTH AND HIGHLIGHT PROGRAM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR INCORPORATING THESE LIFTS INTO YOUTH RESISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS.