The Importance of Functional Strength Training For Youth

The Games They Already Play: Fun Youth Fitness and Exercise Programs Using Functional Fitness

Despite our best efforts, childhood obesity rates continue to rise. Many factors contribute to this, but surely one of the most important factors is a lack of exercise. According to the Center for Disease Control, children and adolescents should do roughly an hour of aerobic exercise a day to stay healthy.  Yet in recent years, less than a quarter of our school children actually do that. And as our children live increasingly sanitary, boxed-in, always-wired lives, it's little wonder that they don't find time to exercise. But, that can be changed.

Youth Conditioning, Endurance and Strength Training - How Important Is It?

With the onset of obesity and overall lack of physical activity in the current youth population, it has become even more evident to focus on youth conditioning and exercise and its impact on future generations.  Technology, unfortunately, has created a very lazy child, as well as the elimination of most physical education programs in elementary, middle schools, and even some high schools.  Kids these days are just eating way too much, and exercising way too little.  Parents are challenged, given the decision, as to what programs to encourage their children to participate in, that are safe and effective to keeping the youth healthy and vibrant.  With youth conditioning, it needs to be a conscious choice as to more endurance, more strength training, or a balance of the two programs.  How important is it?