Does gym training damage children's skeleton or cause their 'little guy' to shrink?

Young people at the gym - Photo: Q. DINH

Does working out at the gym cause a "big top, small bottom" phenomenon, reducing physiological function, especially during puberty? This is just a rumor for fun, scientifically there is absolutely no such phenomenon.

Gym is very good

We know that during puberty, children's bodies undergo rapid growth in height, weight, bones and muscles. Except for overtraining or lifting weights that are too heavy for their age, gym training can help stimulate the production of growth hormones, thereby helping children increase their height.

In particular, growth hormone only stimulates bone growth during puberty. After puberty, bones stop growing and gym training will no longer increase height. Therefore, if you want to maximize your height, you should exercise from puberty to get results.

Working out can help increase muscle mass, but it has no effect on the structure of the penis.

The structure of the penis is made up of connective tissue, erectile tissue, blood vessels and nerve tissue, but not a single bit of muscle tissue. These tissues are covered by groups of muscle tissue with strong elastic connections.

During puberty, the penis will grow in both length and width under the influence of the hormone testosterone. Therefore, going to the gym for pubescent boys will certainly not cause the penis to shrink.

The reason why some boys going to the gym feel like their penis is getting smaller is mainly due to changes in body proportions.

When working out, a boy's muscle mass will increase, especially in the legs, thighs, and buttocks. This can make the penis appear smaller than before. However, this is only a relative visual perception, the actual penis size does not change.

Beware of side effects of supplements

There are some cases where the boys' "little brother" is actually shrinking due to side effects of medication.

Some muscle-enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids - a drug commonly seen advertised in some gyms - can cause side effects such as osteoporosis and testicular atrophy.

Testicular atrophy can lead to a decrease in testosterone, which in turn affects penis size. Therefore, parents should not give their children any medication when working out at the gym.

Exercising incorrectly can easily lead to injury. Parents need to help their children choose a reputable gym and an experienced trainer to help them choose exercises appropriate for their age.

Choose exercises that focus on large muscle groups, such as the thighs, shoulders, arms, back, and hips. These exercises will help increase strength and endurance, while reducing the risk of injury.

Exercise properly. You should exercise under the guidance of a trainer. Exercising properly will help achieve optimal results and reduce the risk of injury.

Eat a nutritious diet. A nutritious diet will help your body grow healthily and increase your resistance.

Get adequate rest. Adequate rest will help your body recover and grow.

Puberty boys should be encouraged to exercise scientifically and reasonably to improve their mental and physical health.

Cases where you should not go to the gym

Some children with the following congenital or underlying diseases should not go to the gym:

Cardiovascular disease: Gym can put pressure on the cardiovascular system, so people with cardiovascular disease, such as heart failure, high blood pressure or arrhythmia, congenital heart disease of all kinds should not go to the gym.

Respiratory conditions: Working out can cause shortness of breath, so people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease, should not work out.

Musculoskeletal disorders: Gymnastics can put stress on bones and joints, so people with musculoskeletal disorders, such as arthritis, osteoporosis or injuries, should also avoid the gym.

It is best to have your child get a general health check-up before deciding whether or not to join a gym.

Gym is always chosen by many young people to improve their health - Photo: Q.DINH

Should teenage girls go to the gym?

When teenage girls want to go to the gym, some parents worry that teenagers are growing in height, if they go to the gym they will become short, and if girls have bulging muscles like bodybuilders they will lose their femininity. So what should parents do when faced with their children's requests?

Helps increase endurance

First of all, we need to know what gym is? Gym is an abbreviation of the Greek word "gymnastic" - meaning "gym", is a form of indoor exercise, using equipment and exercise tools available at the gym.

Gym workouts can help increase strength, endurance, muscle growth, and improve your physique. Gym workouts can be divided into different types, depending on each person's training goals.

Scientifically, puberty is an important stage of body development, especially height growth. During this stage, growth hormone (GH) and thyroid hormones (T3, T4) are produced more, helping to stimulate the growth of bones, cartilage and muscles.

Gymnastics during puberty can help stimulate the production of these hormones, thereby promoting height growth. Specifically, there are many types of gym exercises such as exercises for the musculoskeletal system (squat, deadlift), exercises for a balanced body, good health (fitness), pull-ups, parallel bars, aerobics, yoga... All of them affect the musculoskeletal system, helping to increase muscle strength and flexibility, thereby creating conditions for bones to grow longer.

Why does the gym not make you shorter?

A person's height is determined by many factors including genetics, nutrition, and hormones... Gym does not affect any of these factors. On the contrary, gym can help increase muscle strength and endurance.

Gym also helps improve blood circulation, providing more oxygen and nutrients to cells, thereby helping bones grow healthier and more complete.

This can help the body develop maximum height, without curvature of the spine. Gym does not shorten bones, cartilage or reduce a person's inherent height.

Choose exercises that are appropriate for your child’s age and physical condition. Since your child is a girl, parents should proactively look for gyms with female trainers. A good quality gym will be more convenient for their child.

Practice proper technique to avoid injury. Start with low intensity and increase gradually over time. Combine exercise with proper nutrition and adequate rest.

If practiced properly, gym training for teenage girls can help increase height, develop a more feminine and slim body shape, prevent obesity, improve overall health, help children have good health and a positive spirit in all activities, especially in studying.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tre-tap-gym-co-hu-khung-xuong-hay-teo-cau-nho-20240221233017731.htm