The Infonian

Steroid use has become an increasingly frustrating problem for those in the professional sports industry with admissions by major players that steroid use was involved in their lives. Even more frightening than the widespread abuse of steroids by professional sports players is the alarming number of teenagers and young athletes using steroids with the belief that they will help them become faster, stronger, or better at performing in athletic competitions. People have taken steroids for football, baseball, swimming, wrestling, weight lifting, running, and other sports. When the statistics are reviewed, they show that steroid use is increasing in this age group, which can have serious consequences.

A study that was conducted from 1999 to 2001 shows that steroid use among teenagers has been on the rise and gives statistics that support that assumption. In 1999, 2.7% of tenth grade students report having used steroids at least one time in their lives, while 2.9% of twelfth grade students reported steroid use. The survey was repeated in 2001 and showed that the incidence of steroid use had increased. Tenth grade students reported a 3.5% incidence rate of steroid use, while the use of steroids by twelfth-graders increased to 4%. The same study surveyed the sample of students and asked how frequently their steroid use occurred. In the tenth grade group, 1.0% had used steroids within the month preceding the survey and 2.2% had used steroids within a year preceding the survey. The twelfth grade group showed increased use with 1.4% using in the month prior to the survey and 2.5% using in the year prior to the survey.

This same study shows that gender, race, and cultural beliefs highly impact the decision of whether or not to use steroids. The research shows that Caucasian students are more likely to use steroids than African Americans, Hispanics, or those of other races. Gender also plays a key role in determining who will develop an addiction to steroids or use them at least once. Men use steroids overwhelmingly more than women. In this case, the pressures of the gender may contribute to the development of this type of addiction. Most women are encouraged to be pretty or thin, but men are expected to be masculine, strong, and physically fit. Many fathers encourage their sons to participate in athletics, leading their sons to believe that top performance is a must. These young men then turn to steroids to help them build muscle mass, run faster, hit the ball harder, or have more energy and stamina.

The use of anabolic steroids and steroidal supplements is certainly an issue for student athletes. The best way to reduce the incidence of steroid use is to emphasize natural methods of bulking up and performing better such as cardiovascular exercise, weight bearing exercises, and a healthy diet. With this type of positive encouragement, students may feel less pressure to perform well and avoid using steroids as a means of performance enhancement.

Mike Westerdal is the owner of www.criticalbench.com. Visit his site to receive two free PDF reports entitled, “31 Days To Bigger Arms” and “Boosting Testosterone Levels for Big Muscle Gains.”

Author: Mike Westerdal

There are body building competitions for boys as young as 13 years old. Is this too young? Just like any just about any other issue, there are plenty of opinions on both sides. Some experts say that age 13 is too young to start a weight training regimen while other equally-qualified experts see no harm in it at all. What are the pros and cons of each side and at what age is it safe for a guy to start lifting weights? Lots of experts say that under proper supervision, when a child is old enough to begin participating in organized sports, he or she is old enough to start “strength training” by doing push-ups, sit-ups and similar exercises. For our purposes though, I want to focus on “weight training” using free weights and/or machines, not the regular gym class stuff.

Boys generally start taking an interest in improving their bodies about the time they hit puberty (12-13 years old). That shouldn’t come as a surprise-that’s when they start to develop masculine characteristics, their bodies begin to change and grow and they become interested in girls. Preadolescent boys (before puberty) lack the androgens-the body’s natural steroid hormones such as testosterone or androsterone-that trigger and control the development of the masculine characteristics.

Given the fact that in prepubescent boys production of natural steroid hormones has yet to ramp up, it would seem to make sense that boys who haven’t entered puberty would not really benefit from weight training because their body lacks some of the basic building blocks necessary to gain lean muscle. However, several studies have indicated that even prepubescent boys can achieve gains in strength through weight/resistance training these gains are attributed to the nervous system and motor learning rather than hormones-in other words, they’ll usually gain strength but muscle gains will be minimal.

Some people say that adolescent boys (about 13 years old) should not be weight training because they believe the risk of injuries is too great and that it can even result in stunted growth. I researched this idea and didn’t found any credible sources to validate it though. The research I’ve found indicates that provided the youth engages in a supervised, appropriate weight training program, there is no danger of stunted growth. Furthermore, experts say that the risk of injury from a properly supervised weight training program is no worse than that of participating in any ordinary sporting activity.

An adolescent who is going to embark on a weight training program should not just jump into a water-down adult workout. The central nervous system in young athletes is still developing so their coordination and balance are not going to be as capable as in adults. So instead of focusing maximum weight or the number of lifts, the emphasis should be on executing proper form. Only once the proper form has been mastered should the weight or resistance be increased. A good rule of thumb is to underestimate their physical abilities rather than overestimate and risk injury.

In general, teen weight lifters should avoid the Olympic-style weight lifting movements. Many of these require a great deal of skill and if done improperly, can result in lower back or even spinal injuries. Interestingly, some experts believe that adolescents should avoid machines in favor of free weights. They say that because machines are designed for adults, improper setup-even just a little-could result in injury.

Similarly, the adolescent lifter should not be training five or six days a week-at least not initially. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine recommends that teens around the age of 13 should stick to about two to three 20-30 minute training sessions per week. Again, as their mastery and strength improves, the length and frequency of training can be increased.

Recovery should be an integral part of any teen’s weightlifting program. Injuries from overuse or overexertion can lead to chronic problems later on in life. Young lifters should always be certain that their body parts/muscle groups are fully recovered in between training sessions. In addition, teen workouts should begin and end with warm-up and cool-down periods.

So overall the consensus seems to be that boys should hold off on embarking on a weight lifting program until they reach puberty at about the age of 13. But even then, certain considerations should be taken including: a medical evaluation should be performed first; proper adult supervision is essential; form needs to be emphasized over weight or reps; all major muscle groups should be addressed; and any sign of injury should be evaluated before continuing the training regimen.

Author: Mike Westerdal