Happy New Year and Best Wishes! May 2025 bring you new discoveries and moments of deep peace. This article will be short: a comment on the comments of an opinion.
There’s a cool editorial (1) on the importance of strength and strength training for health. The key takeaway is clear: building a solid strength foundation during youth is vital. This strength reserve not only contributes to a longer life but also enhances functionality, independence, and overall well-being.
The idea that strong muscles are fundamental to health isn’t new. (Although, do you recall the days when cardio was the only thing you needed to do for health?) What’s new is the emphasis on developing this reserve early in life, much like building strong bones in youth to serve as a foundation for later years.
However, in the comments on this editorial, I’ve come across opinions where I either disagree or feel there are better alternatives. Many argue, quite logically, that strength training should begin in childhood. I completely agree. Where I differ, though, is in how we approach this training. Personally, I’m not a fan of children lifting weights in a gym.
It’s not about the risks of weightlifting; rather, it’s about the limited benefits. Yes, it strengthens muscles—but that’s about all it does.
Instead, I’d advocate for a more holistic approach that nurtures the whole person—physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. And the best way to achieve this? Play! Play is more wholesome, more sound.
Free outdoor play offers everything children need: it enhances strength and conditioning, optimizes coordination and motor control, increases bone density, and builds self-esteem, resilience, and social skills. Play is nature’s way of shaping humans into anti-fragile beings.
Unfortunately, unsupervised play in nature is becoming rarer. Should we replace it with gym-based exercise? I’m not convinced. Building strength through playful activities—like parkour, climbing, judo, or other martial arts—is a far better approach. These activities strengthen muscles while fostering creativity, adaptability, and joy.
Interestingly, the activities mentioned above are sometimes referred to as “donor sports.” They’re suggested to enhance athletic development for individuals participating in other, primary sports. While they may not specifically focus on building a strength reserve, they undoubtedly strengthen muscles—along with providing countless additional benefits. (2,3,4)
Strength training is essential, even for the young. But it doesn’t have to take place in a gym. Free play, ideally outdoors, offers a perfect alternative. Donor sports like parkour are also excellent options—they do so much more and are far more fun!
I’ll leave you with a question: If these arguments hold true for children, why should it be different for adults?
What are your thoughts?
Cheers,
Pieter
References:
Faigenbaum et al (2024) Bridging the gap between strengthspan and lifespan. Br J Sports Med
Strafford et al (2018) Parkour as a donor sport for athletic development in youth team sports: insights through an ecological dynamics lens. Sports Med
Strafford et al (2022) Feasibility of Parkour-style training in team sport practice: A Delphi study. Journal of Sport Science.
Williams et al (2021) Parkour-based activities in the athletic development of youth basketball players. Front Physiol
Bình luận