Comparison of responses to weight training in prepubescent and adult males

The effect of overload training on adults has been considered for thousands of years. Centuries before Christ, Milo of Crotona carried a calf on his back daily until the animal was full-grown, resulting in one of the earliest accounts of the overload principle (Bergan & Scoles, 1979). Results of overload training on adults have been well documented (Tanner, 1952; Hellebrandt & Houtz, 1958; Berger,1962a; 1962b; Rasch & Pierson, 1963; Berger & Hardage, 1967; Stull & Clark, 1970; Leighton, Holmes, Benson, Wooten & Schmerer, 1967; Wilmore, 1975; Gettman, Ward & Hager, 1982). However, how overload affects children and adolescents is barely touched upon in the literature. The concept of an overload training threshold age or point of threshold maturity is virtually a matter of speculation. There is general agreement that there are certain indicators which are at least moderately related to strength, including maturity and structural measures (Jones, 1946; Wickens, 1958; Hunsicker & Greey, 1957; Clarke & Petersen, 1961; Clarke & Harrison, 1962; Rarick & Oyster, 1964). Although not logically developed by exercise these traits should be considered when judging the· physical potential of boys and girls. On the contrary, muscular strength is a developmental trait which can be improved through the right kind and amount of exercise (President\u27s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 1974). The value of overload training in both a rehabilitative and developmental sense has been noted for teenage boys (Gallagher, Andover & Delorme, 1949; Fisher, 1966). Unfortunately, it was not documented whether any or all of these boys had reached puberty. Since puberty has generally been considered to be·that point at which strength gains are enhanced (Jones, 1946; Miller & Keane, 1978; Wilmore, 1982), the question arises as to the worth of earlier weight training. It has been noted that strength training for prepubescent children in the hope of increasing size and/or the strength of their muscle is probably of little benefit, since there is no predictable response (Round Table Discussion, 1977). However, when reviewing the literature one finds that this allegation.is one that has not been clearly investigated

Comparison of responses to weight training in prepubescent and adult males

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscular strength/endurance between prepubescent and adult males. Specifically, gains via free weights along with girths, weight, skeletal widths, skinfolds, and somatotype changes were compared between the two groups before and after an eight week weight training program. Both groups contained both control and training subjects in order to determine changes attributable to training. Differences between the mean gains in performance, after adjusting for inital differences, were analyzed to shed some light on effects of puberty

Effect of Running on Anterior Knee Laxity in Collegiate-Level Female Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Abstract: Agility running activities are commonly used in the latter stages of rehabilitation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, the effects of agility running on anterior knee laxity in these patients have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in anterior knee laxity before and after 30 minutes of agility running exercise. Subjects (N = 9) were female athletes ( X age = 20.1 ± 1.5 years; height = 171.7 ± 10.4 cm; weight = 65.7 ± 8.6 kg) with unilateral ACL reconstruction (central1/3) patella tendon graft, postoperation range = 9-52 months, X = 24.2 months). Measurements were made at 20° and 90° of knee flexion bilaterally with KT-1000 arthrometry IMEDmetric, San Diego, CA) and recorded in millimeters of displacement. Data were analyzed with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures (p < 0.05). Results showed no statistical differences between the ACLreconstructed knee and the normal knee at 20° and 90° knee flexion. The authors conclude that the central 1/3 patella tendon graft performs comparable to the normal knee when stressed with agility running exercise; therefore, agility exercise is an appropriate, safe, short-term activity