can bench pressing stunt your growth????

Question

I'm 13, 5'7 and I can bench 225 pounds (pretty strong)......but i want to know if bench pressing can stunt your growth..........

Answer 1

In some ways yes - at your age using the weight that you are pushing. While your strength training seems impressive now, you are putting your health at great risk. Free weight training is an excellent part of any physical traing regimine, but it should be done under a program that a professional sets up for you.

At your age , you should be focusing on stamina as wll as strength and tone, so you want a varied program that involves isometrics, weight training, swimming, aerobics or pilaties, and some yoga.

I'll let you in on a little secret that most people do not realize, as a former professional weight lifter, and competative bodybuilder, you do not stop "growing " until you are about 25; so you have to be careful about how much you do and how you do it, or you can deform you frame, permanently damage joints, ligaments, tendons, and develop so much muscle tissue, that unless you are commited to keeping up a rigerous exercise routing for the rest of your life, you can end up looking like one of those sharpei dogs with too much skin when you're in your 50's & 60's.

At your age, I recommend you strive for tone, low body fat ratio, and that "ropey" strength that dancers have. Look at Tiger Woods or Michael Barishnikoff - both of these men are in incredible shape - but they don't look like "Arnold"., but in addition to strength, they have speed, agility, and stamina, - and they can buy clothes off the rack anywhere. I'll tell you what - I't darned expensive to have a suit made when you have a 32" inseam, a 29" waist", and a 60" chest, and need sleeves that will accomodate 21" biceps, and a jacket that must have a 27" neck. My shirts used to cosr me $ 45.00 a piece, - and that was just everyday shirts, dress shirts were $ 75.00. Airplane seats are always too small - and a lot of girls think that guys with that kind of musculature are gross, and must have "small" equipment.

So my advice to you is slow down with the power lifting until you are at least 19. Stay away from steroids and "Power Drinks" and "Herbal supplements" - all they give you is expensive pee, and that's about it. You want healthy? Drink milk and eat a good balanced diet.

Stay away from basketball, football, and soccer - they are too tough on your joints - too hard impact. Swim - no greater exercise. Stay in the Gym - get a Professional trainer to set up and every-other day, three days a week, (week ends off) program for you. Try yoga, A great way to start each day is the Air Forces 20 minute isometric program - it's like a 2 hour full work out - check it out on the web - it's an old routine - but its one of the best around - and has been for years.

I'm glad to hear your into fitness, don't forget about the basics - pull ups, push-up, bends & thrusts, sit ups, jumping jacks, - they haven't been in practice in the military for hundreds of years because they do not have benefit. Martial Arts will also help you develop your agility, coordination, strength, speed, discipline, and focus. For you I recommend Judo or Ju Jitsu, they are fun, low impact, and you can advance quickly with dedication and practice. Good luck.

I'm pulling for you.

Answer 2

Bench pressing and squats cannot and will not stunt your physical growth. However, it might stunt your mental growth if you concentrate more on the physical rather than the intellectual.

Answer 3

yes, it can. for now, just do less, but when you're done growing, you can do as much as your body can reasonably hold. If you're really unsure, talk to your doctor.

Answer 4

yes, but only if you drop them on your head.