Does weight lifting stunt growth?

[dashparr7]

My 15 year old nephew wants to start lifting, and a PT at my gym told me to let him do plyometrics and jumps instead of weight lifting cause itll stunt his growth.

More specifically I'm asking about squats, deadlifts and exercises that compress the spine/joints.

If he does start I'll make sure his form is 100% correct, so I let him start?(I will have him start starting strength)

[Xuaxace]

it doesn't.

[dashparr7]

it doesn't.

Even doing compound exercises in the low rep range such as 1-5?

[Rasputin4]

Not if he does it properly. He may need to have a bit less intensity at his age, though.

[dashparr7]

bum,p

[Xuaxace]

Not if he does it properly. He may need to have a bit less intensity at his age, though.

mate... there are 15 year olds lifting 500lb in the teens section... please.

Lift safe and you are good to go. Lifting is no more risky to growth than any contact sport.

[jugulaur]

Height is based on genetics, lifting heavy weights will NOT stunt his growth. If he's genetically predispoed to be 6'5 then he's going to be 6'5 and so on. Just make sure he's doing the lifts properly so he doesn't mess himself up.

[John Hicks]

and a PT at my gym told me to...

If that PT told you to jump off a bridge, would you do that too?

Go to another gym, the guy is an a-hole and doesn't know WTF he's talking about. There are guys here on this forum that started lifting earlier than your nephew and they are just fine, your nephew will be too.

[XADO]

A bad diet will probably stunt his growth more than doing exercises in the gym ....

And on top of that, going for a leisurely way of progression will not stunt growth, will not impede him from developing normally.....

If he goes over the edge, uses drugs, pushes too hard, from a certain age, it might be somewhat damaging....

Moderation in everything is the way to go .

[FAO]

I think that is the age most of us fell in love with lifting. How old is this PT?

[TheLK]

Since I started lifting, I actually grew an inch. And my routine is based around heavy lifting. I don't think it stunts growth... lifting actually releases growth hormones.

[CookAndrewB]

No, it won't stunt growth.

Of course, I am an inch shorter now than I was in college.

[Rasputin4]

mate... there are 15 year olds lifting 500lb in the teens section... please.

Lift safe and you are good to go. Lifting is no more risky to growth than any contact sport.

Yes, I understand that. But the percentage of 15 year olds lifting 500 lbs is very small on any lift, even for adult lifters!

All I'm saying is someone who is 15 and just starting out should gradate into it, not just jump in with max intensity with squats, deads, and all the other compounds. Even for an adult just getting started, I wouldn't suggest going max effort on squats or deads. Some people shouldn't even do squats or deads when they start out, not until they've learned proper form with very low weight and are sure they have the flexibility to properly execute the lifts.

Yeah, lifting does produce HGH, this may boost his growth. Just make sure he uses proper form and never uses a weight for any lift that he can't handle with proper form.

[Xuaxace]

Yes, I understand that. But the percentage of 15 year olds lifting 500 lbs is very small on any lift, even for adult lifters!

All I'm saying is someone who is 15 and just starting out should gradate into it, not just jump in with max intensity with squats, deads, and all the other compounds. Even for an adult just getting started, I wouldn't suggest going max effort on squats or deads. Some people shouldn't even do squats or deads when they start out, not until they've learned proper form with very low weight and are sure they have the flexibility to properly execute the lifts.

Yeah, lifting does produce HGH, this may boost his growth. Just make sure he uses proper form and never uses a weight for any lift that he can't handle with proper form.

Agree. learning form has to be done before even thinking about using any challenging weights, however after a lifter has got a form that is good enough to progress, they shall do so regardless of age.

My point is more aimed at those that say that is ok for teens to lift but not using weights say less than 5 reps ( heavy loads )or whatever.

[Tekstorm]

No it doesn't, some of the biggest Olympic weight lifters and action stars started strength training at age 15-17, most of them are 6ft plus. Look at Arnold, he is 6'2" and started lifting at age 15.

If it stunted growth then no High School would have a weight room.

[chazzy1864]

All I'm saying is someone who is 15 and just starting out should gradate into it, not just jump in with max intensity with squats, deads, and all the other compounds.

How many people jump right into doing 1RM for all of the major lifts?? Really....





Aside:
OP and anybody who thinks lifting stunts growth should be shot into the sun, thus preventing any further breeding from that gene line.