What Are Challenges Youth Face With Fitness?
Imagine a world where the youth are not just active, but thrive in every fitness challenge they encounter. In this blog post, insights from a Director & Physiotherapist at The Alignment Studio and a CEO are shared to shed light on common fitness challenges youth clients face and how these professionals address them. Learn how experts tackle balancing training intensity and proper technique as the first insight, and addressing the issue of performance enhancing drugs as the final insight, among a total of four valuable insights. Embark on this journey to understand the hurdles and solutions in youth fitness.
- Balancing Training Intensity and Proper Technique
- Maintaining Motivation and Consistency
- Combating Packed Agendas and Body Image Issues
- Addressing the Issue of Performance Enhancing Drugs
Balancing Training Intensity and Proper Technique
One of the biggest challenges I observed in youth clients is the balance between training intensity and proper technique. Young athletes are often eager to push themselves, whether to excel in their sport or simply keep up with peers. However, this enthusiasm can sometimes lead to poor movement patterns or overuse injuries. Addressing this requires a structured, educational approach that focuses on developing foundational strength, mobility, and body awareness. With over 30 years of experience in physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation, I've seen how early intervention and tailored programming can set young clients up for long term success.
For example, I once worked with a 15 year old AFL player who came to The Alignment Studio with recurring knee pain. His goal was to improve performance, but his training regimen was putting significant stress on his joints due to poor biomechanics. Drawing on my expertise in musculoskeletal health and sports injury prevention, I conducted a comprehensive movement assessment and identified imbalances in his hip strength and poor foot mechanics. By incorporating targeted physiotherapy exercises, strength training, and Pilates into his routine, we not only resolved his knee pain but also improved his overall athletic performance. Seeing him return to the field stronger and more confident was a reminder of the importance of addressing the root cause not just the symptoms especially in young athletes with big potential.
Maintaining Motivation and Consistency
Youth clients often struggle with maintaining motivation and consistency in their fitness routine. I've seen this through my work with high school and college sports teams, where initial enthusiasm can quickly wane. To combat this, I focus on setting clear, achievable goals and linking them to each individual's passions and interests. This personalized approach keeps them engaged and committed over the long term.
Additionally, I introduce variety into their training programs. For example, I incorporate different martial arts techniques and the BodyBell Method(R) to keep workouts dynamic and fun. This not only helps to maintain interest but also improves their overall fitness and skillset, allowing youths to explore new capabilities beyond traditional exercises.
When it comes to measuring progress, I use frequent assessments that align with their specific goals. This could be improving speed, agility, or strength, and regularly showing them how much they've improved helps reinforce their progress, boosting motivation and fostering a sense of achievement.
Combating Packed Agendas and Body Image Issues
I often see young people struggling to stay motivated, what with their packed school agendas, social plans, and the temptation of gadgets and gizmos everywhere. Gym time tends to take a back seat. So my game plan is to jazz up their workout sessions. We mix it up with group competitions, challenges with a bunch of hurdles, and groovy dance numbers to keep the boredom at bay and the energy high. Plus, I make sure to spotlight how hitting the gym boosts their pep, lifts their spirits, and helps them catch some solid sleeps to get why keeping up with exercise is a big deal.
Body image and self-esteem issues are big obstacles. Loads of kids battle with feeling bad about themselves, and that can stop them from wanting to get involved in exercise. To deal with this, I cheer on a good view of their bodies and push for a mindset that's all about getting better. I pay attention to getting a little better each time, not being flawless, and I make a big deal of the small wins. By showing them how key it is to be strong keep going longer, and stay healthy instead of worrying about their weight or how they look, I guide my young peeps towards a better relationship with their bodies and a cheerier take on working out.
Addressing the Issue of Performance Enhancing Drugs
Fitness as a whole has changed over the years due to the rise of social media, some changes have been good and some bad. The biggest challenge facing youth with their fitness is the idea that they need performance enhancing drugs.
I recently had a 15 year old boy approach me in the gym and ask about writing him a program and training him, however during this he informed me that when to turns 18 he plans to take anabolic steroids as he wants to be a competitive bodybuilder and fitness model.
The fact that, at 15 years old, he has already decided that he needs PED's to achieve this, shows exactly what is wrong with the fitness industry as a whole.
My advice for him was to simply focus on improving his technique, progressive overload and to eat in a calorie surplus for the next year, while blocking out the poor advice he is getting from tik-tok and see what happens.
The truth is, anabolic steroids may solve one problem with getting you stronger, improving recovery and your physical appearance, but they come with a whole host of other problems. Side effects can include, high blood pressure, decreased sperm production, male pattern baldness, severe acne and aggression.
In fact a cross sectional study out of Norway by (Henriksen et al., 2023), which included self reported data from 90 men, found that every one of the 90 men reported side effects from anabolic-androgenic steroid use.
The problem of PED's for youth needs to be addressed and factual data driven fitness insights need to be more accessible and visual, to remove the desire to take that route.
