July 5, 2005 --

Elizabeth O'Hara-KFOX News at Nine Anchor/Reporter

More kids 8 to 12 years of age are engaging in a new activity, pumping up. Strength training has gained so much in popularity that resistance equipment labeled "Just for Kids" is showing up in gyms across the country. In this Parenting Report, we'll tell you how to ensure a safe and effective training program for your child.

Ten-year-old Aaron has a dream.

Aaron Leibowitz-10 Year Old: "Be a baseball player and a famous pitcher."

But when he advanced from recreational play to competitive leagues, his shoulder began to give him problems. His coach suggested he look into weight training not to pump up but to keep pain at bay.

Laurie Leibowitz-Mom: "Its focus was on those muscles that he needs to strengthen so he won't get injured when he's doing his pitching."

Experts caution about specializing in one sport early on. But if your child is passionate, our doctors say supervised weight resistance programs can be beneficial.

Dr. Eric Small-Pediatrician: "The one group who would definitely benefit from weight training is the child athlete who is specializing or very good in one sport because we know those children develop over-use injuries or muscle imbalance. Then another group we would be looking at are children who are not athletes but sedentary or overweight, and weight training could be a way to improve self esteem and introduce them to sports."

Weight resistance training is not about how much you can lift but repetitions to strengthen specific muscle areas. But injuries do occur during weight lifting, as many as 20,000 a year among young people, so consult with your pediatrician first. As for Aaron, he's pitching faster and pain free.

If your child is weight training, doctors recommend they workout no more than three times a week.

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