Why are the isometric stretches bad for teenagers?
Why are the isometric stretches bad for teenagers?
Hello again. It's been a while since my last post. I want some help in making me understand why are the isometric stretches bad for teenagers. I've seen in many topics that some of you (more experienced for sure) do not reccomend isometric stretches to young persons. Is this because they're muscles aren't prepared or why? Can someone enlighten me please? Thanks and salut from Romania!
Basically because they may not have fully developed.
Here is what Thomas Kurz says about it:-
"Question: I am 15 years old and I am anxious to start isometrics as I know that isometric stretches are the quickest way to achieving splits. I have been very inflexible most of my life and I am starting martial arts (taekwondo). I want to know, from a physiological standpoint, why I can't do isometrics. I haven't grown significantly in quite a while. Does this mean I'm ready for more intense training?
Answer: Maybe you can do isometrics and maybe you cannot. It depends on your skeleton's maturity (whether you have finished growing or not) and your physician should be able to tell you one way or the other. My general recommendation is that young people whose bones are still growing do not do isometric stretches, and it's based on the advice from world-renowned authorities (see Children and Sports Training and Science of Sports Training).
It is recommended that fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds lift weights no heavier than 100% of their body weight. (The rationale is given in Science of Sports Training.) For a normal adolescent lifting 100% of his or her body weight in common lifts such as the squat, deadlift, or bench press requires much less than the maximal muscular contraction, but in isometric stretches muscles are tensed up to the maximal voluntary contraction. That would exceed the magnitude of tension that is considered safe for an immature skeleton.
Because your sport requires kicking and not doing gymnastic splits, I recommend that you concentrate on dynamic stretches as the main means of developing flexibility and do some relaxed static stretches at the end of a cool-down after your workouts."
Hope this helps,
Dragon.
Here is what Thomas Kurz says about it:-
"Question: I am 15 years old and I am anxious to start isometrics as I know that isometric stretches are the quickest way to achieving splits. I have been very inflexible most of my life and I am starting martial arts (taekwondo). I want to know, from a physiological standpoint, why I can't do isometrics. I haven't grown significantly in quite a while. Does this mean I'm ready for more intense training?
Answer: Maybe you can do isometrics and maybe you cannot. It depends on your skeleton's maturity (whether you have finished growing or not) and your physician should be able to tell you one way or the other. My general recommendation is that young people whose bones are still growing do not do isometric stretches, and it's based on the advice from world-renowned authorities (see Children and Sports Training and Science of Sports Training).
It is recommended that fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds lift weights no heavier than 100% of their body weight. (The rationale is given in Science of Sports Training.) For a normal adolescent lifting 100% of his or her body weight in common lifts such as the squat, deadlift, or bench press requires much less than the maximal muscular contraction, but in isometric stretches muscles are tensed up to the maximal voluntary contraction. That would exceed the magnitude of tension that is considered safe for an immature skeleton.
Because your sport requires kicking and not doing gymnastic splits, I recommend that you concentrate on dynamic stretches as the main means of developing flexibility and do some relaxed static stretches at the end of a cool-down after your workouts."
Hope this helps,
Dragon.
Thanks very much, Dragon! I asked this because I do not want to do some stupid things in my trainings with teenagers, always keeping in mind that safety is first. For now I encoureged them (they are between 8 and 18) to do dinamic stretches, in order to prepare themselves for higher and powerfull kicks. That's all for now, you've been a lot of help Dragon. Thank you and I salut you from Romania.