Lifting The Burden For Pubertas Children, What Are The Benefits?

Illustration of children holding weightlifting exercises. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Weightlifting is increasingly popular among teenagers, including children who have just entered retirement. However, endocrinological consultant pediatrician, dr. Frida Soesanti, SpA(K), Ph.D., reminded that this type of exercise should not be done before retirement is over.

The reason is, at that age, the body is still in the stage of growth and intense development, so it is not ready to accept heavy pressure from weight training.

According to dr. Frida, who is also a member of the Endocrinology Coordination Work Unit (UKK) of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the muscles and bones of children are not fully mature.

"If the children don't have time to lift the burden, yes, the muscles are not ready to be formed yet. Usually we only allow it after maturity is over, when the bone growth has also stopped," Frida said in an online health discussion in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

Head of the Children's Endocrinology Division at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia RSUPN dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo explained, in children and adolescents who are still in the early stages ofnication, the hormone levels of testosterone, especially in boys, are not high enough to support the formation of significant muscle masses.

Furthermore, Frida emphasized that exercise loading too early could risk injury to the bone growth plate (epiphysis). This part is very important because it plays a role in the bone distancing process. If damaged, the child's height growth can be disrupted.

"Men aged 1112 years do not have sufficient testosterone levels, so it is not yet time to form muscles through lifting weights. It is precisely a risk of injureing growing bones," he explained.

Even so, Frida emphasized that physical activity remains important for children and adolescents. The movement of the body that puts repeated pressure on the bone and muscles can actually strengthen the body's natural structure.

"What we need is a sport with a safe repetitive burden, such as running, tennis, or dancing. That type of sport puts natural pressure on bone and muscle without harming its growth," he added.

He concluded by reminding that physical exercise should be adjusted to the stages of child development. If children are still in their growth period, it is better to focus on sports that train agility, coordination, and endurance, not muscle formation through heavy burdens.