Youth. Aerobic and strength training can impart benefits
to young athletes and is not associated with increased injury
risk if performed correctly (4). However, physiological and
biomechanical capabilities and skeletal and psychological
immaturity in young athletes are different from those of
adults. These factors require modification of strength and
conditioning programs, including periods of active rest and
recovery. Strength gains in the prepubertal population will be
due to increases in recruitment and synchronization of muscle
activation patterns. As the athlete matures, gains in muscle
mass will play a more significant role in strength increases.
Modification considerations:
Periodization program includes 2 to 3 months away
each year from sport-specific training and competition.
Most strength training equipment is designed for adultsize
use and may not be safe or effective for the child/
adolescent.
Heavy weight lifting, including the snatch, clean, and
jerk, and 1RM lifts are not recommended for skeletally
immature athletes.
Focus should be on supervision, technique, lower intensity,
and volume of training.
Aerobic conditioning, including distance running, may
be acceptable. However, modifications to address issues
such as physical fitness, self-motivation, heat/cold, and
hydration are necessary.
Female athletes. Female athletes respond similarly to
their male counterparts to aerobic and resistance training. Modification
may be necessary during pregnancy (1,10). Disparities
in strength are related to smaller average body size and
cross-sectional area of muscle fibers in females. Both male and
female athletes experience improvements in strength, power,
and endurance; however, female athletes may not experience
as much an increase in muscle hypertrophy. Female athletes,
like their male counterparts, should be encouraged to participate
in a comprehensive strength and conditioning program.
Multisport athletes. With overlapping seasons, multisport
athletes have unique conditioning challenges.Multisport
athletes need to maintain their general athletic fitness base and
focus their sport-specific conditioning toward their current
sport. A period of active rest and recovery between seasons is
of particular importance to multisport athletes (4). Conditioning
injuries and overtraining may occur when an athlete
tries to prepare simultaneously for two different sports.
Athletes with physical and intellectual challenges.
Athletes with physical and/or intellectual challenges often
benefit from sports participation and physical activity. Sporting
opportunities and participation have expanded significantly
for these athletes. Conditioning for sports participation
may involve modification of training program (exercise selection,
frequency, intensity, duration, volume, and tempo) and
use of adaptive sporting equipment, prosthetics, and other
devices to enable participation, mitigate risk of injury, and
optimize performance.