Medical History Associated with Adolescent

Powerlifting

Eugene W. Brown, PhD, and Richard G. Kimball

From the Youth Sports Institute, Department of Health and Physical Education, Michigan
State University, East Lansing

ABSTRACT. A questionnaire, designed to elicit informa- petitive powerlifters, also engage in the three lifts.
tion about the training, experience, and medical history This is exemplified by the inclusion of powerlifting
of adolescent powerlifters, was administered to 71 con-
exercises in the weight training programs of high
testants entered in the 1981 Michigan Teenage Power-
lifting Championship. The average subject had partici- school sports teams. By definition, weight training
pated in 4.1 workouts per week for 17.1 months. Each involves repetitive lifting of submaximal loads us-
workout lasted an average of 99.2 minutes. The popula- ing many different exercises for total body condi-
tion sustained 98 powerlifting injuries which caused a tioning. However, the percent of maximum weight
discontinuance of training for a total of 1,126 days. The
lifted and the number of repetitions typically per-
incidence and severity of pain in 13 regions of the body,
as well as the site and type of powerlifting injury, were formed by the adolescent athlete using powerlifts
investigated. The low back region was shown to be the as part of a weight training program is unknown.
site with the greatest number of injuries (49). This region In teenage powerlifting, it is common for the
also had the highest percent of subjects recording an musculoskeletal system to be exposed to loads that
elevated occurrence and level of pain associated with
exceed body weight by as much as two to three
powenlifting. Pediatrics 1983;72:636-644; injuries, athletic
injuries, sports medicine, weight lifting. times (Table 1). In order for the body to support
these loads, opposing muscular torques (joint turn-
ing forces) must be exerted which are at least equal
to the resistive torques resulting from the load and
the weight of contributing body segments.

Powerlifting is a form of competitive weight lift- Extensors of the spine, hip, knee, and ankle are
ing. It consists of three events (Fig 1): squat lift, the primary muscle groups that provide opposing
dead lift, and bench press. The goal of competitive muscular torque in the squat and dead lift to pre-
powerlifters is to lift their maximum amount in vent the body from collapsing from the load. The
each event. Competition in this sport is sanctioned squat lift is performed basically like a deep knee
by the International Powerlifting Federation for bend. According to the rules of the International
various age categories, which includes a 14 through Powerlifting Federation, the lifter shall bend
. . .

the knees and lower the body until the surface of

19 year grouping.
The extent and intensity of adolescent involve- the legs at the hip joint is lower than the tops of

ment in powerlifting is unknown. The fact that the knees. The extensors of the ankle, knee, hip,
heavy weights can be lifted without excessive atten- and trunk first engage in a lengthening (eccentric
contraction) when lowering the body and then a
tion to technique may be a factor that attracts
adolescent weight lifters to this sport. Figures on shortening (concentric contraction) in the upward
movement in opposing the force that is applied to
the number of adolescents competing are not read-
ily available. Many adolescents, other than corn- the body from the weights positioned across the
shoulders at the back of the neck. Force is similarly
applied to the body at the shoulder region in the
Received for publication July 23, 1982; accepted Jan 27, 1983. dead lift. However, it is transmitted via tensile force
Reprint requests to (E.W.B.) Youth Sports Institute, Depart-
applied by the weights to the upper extremity and
ment of Health and Physical Education, Michigan State Uni-
opposed by concentric contraction of the extensors.
versity, East Lansing, MI 48824.
PEDIATRICS (ISSN 0031 4005). Copyright 1983 by the In this lift, a weighted bar is raised from the floor
American Academy of Pediatrics. in front of the lifter. The bar is . . . uplifted with

636 PEDIATRICS Vol. 72 No. 5 November1983

 SQUAT LIFT DEAD LIFT BENCH PRESS
Fig 1. Three competitive powerlifts.

TABLE 1. Perfor mance Results: 1981 Michi gan Teen age Powerlifting C hampion ship
Lift Type Weight Class (lb)

275/4 242#{189} 220#{188} 198/4 181/4 165/4 148/4 132/4 123#{189} 114#{189} 105

Squat lift (ib)

Mean 305.0 478.3 440.0 375.7 344.4 386.7 316.8 292.9 266.3 204.0 146.3
No.ofsubjects (2) (3) (5) (7) (9) (9) (11) (7) (4) (5) (4)
Maximum 330 550 475 475 420 450 400 345 330 230 180
Dead lift (lb)
Mean 325.0 526.7 545.0 447.5 425.8 448.8 386.5 367.9 357.5 264.0 215.0
No.ofsubjects (2) (3) (6) (6) (12) (8) (10) (7) (4) (5) (4)
Maximum 350 600 600 510 550 560 465 420 450 280 245

Bench press (lb)

Mean 267.5 358.3 298.0 270.0 238.3 259.4 200.0 200.0 155.0 142.0 109.0
No.ofsubjects (2) (3) (5) (6) (12) (9) (12) (7) (4) (5) (4)
Maximum 310 450 360 340 325 300 260 245 180 170 140

one continuous motion until the lifter is standing injury potential of these two powerlifts, relative to
erect. the other lifts, can not be determined because train-
The bench press poses an entirely different prob- ing details were not documented. Kotani et a!3
lem to the lifter. In this lift, the musculoskeletal studied 26 outstanding weight lifters who ranged in
system of the shoulder girdle acts to provide a base age from 18 to 24 years. It was found that 24 of the
of support for the motion of lowering and raising 26 lifters had recurrent episodes of low back pain.
the weight to and from the chest. Alternately ec- Roentgenogram examinatioon revealed eight cases
centric and concentric contractions occur in the of spondylolysis, four cases of lumbar spine deform-
elbow extensors and horizontal flexors of the shoul- ity, and two cases of spina bifida occulta.
den joint. An increase in strength is a common goal sought
At present, little research has been conducted on by adolescent weight lifters. However, adverse
adolescent powerlifters. Most research into the po- stress on the musculoskeletal system from lifting
tential adverse effects of weight lifting has focused heavy weights may result in unwarranted risk. This
on adult Olympic-style lifters. Kulund et a!2 studied is an important issue, especially in young lifters.
80 Olympic-style lifters who performed the squat According to a recent policy statement of the Amen-
and dead lift as well as Olympic and other types of ican Academy of Pediatrics, weight lifting is a . . .

lifts in their weight training program. These lifters competitive sport with a high injury rate that
reported 1 1 1 injuries. The incidence of injury by should not be practiced by the preadolescent. Teen-
type of lift, areas of the body injured, and duration agens who wish to participate should have proper
of impairment, were also reported. The two pow- safety precautions and capable supervision.4
erlifts accounted for 32 of the 111 injuries. The Troup5 stated that . . . young people are likely

ARTICLES 637
to be relatively unskilled and are apt to try heavy each questionnaire item varied. Subject response
weights in the absence oftrained instructors. Also, numbers are indicated throughout this report.
adolescents are not structurally mature. In fact, the
vertebrae of the spine, which are areas of concern,
Training and Experience
are not completely ossified until 25 to 30 years of
age.6 Mason7 and Troup5 expressed their theoretical Data on the training and experience of the lifters
concerns for possible deleterious effects of the dead were compiled by age in years (Table 2). From Table
lift on the spines of young lifters. Troup suggested 2 and other computed values, several facts were
a marked shearing stress, at the start of the dead evident. The average powerlifting experience of all
lift, resisted by the pars interarticulanis of succes- subjects was 17.1 months. However, a median value
sive vertebrae in the region of the vertebral arch of 11.9 months indicated that more than 50% of
between the superior and inferior facets. Jesse8 the respondents were involved with powenlifting for
expressed opposition to any young athlete taking less than 1 year; the minimum experience was 2
up weight training with weights greater than 40% months and the maximum was 46 months. The
of body weight prior to one year of basic strength average subject began participation in powerlifting
development of spinal muscles through a full range at 15.3 years of age and had previously participated
of movement. He suggested a lack of muscular in 3.4 contests. However, 70.0% of the subjects had
development of back muscles, improper warm-up, participated in three contests or less. For 21.7% of
and a lack of lifting skill as contributors to low the subjects, the present contest was their first.
back pain and injury. Throughout their entire powerlifting experience,
It is evident that more needs to be known about the average subject trained 4.1 times per week and
the potential adverse effects of weight lifting on spent 99.2 minutes per training session. On the
adolescent lifters. This is especially true of power- average, training was performed alone or with
lifting because the body is exposed to resistances of friends, without the supervision of a trained
relatively large magnitudes. Thus, the purpose of coach, 51.6% of the time. There was a tendency
this study was to construct a profile of the medical toward an increased percentage of training alone or
history of adolescent powenlifters in order to com- with friends, without the supervision of a trained
prehend more fully the potential for injury in this coach, with increase in age. In fact, 99.0% of the
sport. 19-year-old subjects trained in this manner. The
training sites varied. The greatest percent of train-
METHODS ing time (37.7%) occurred at school. This average
figure may have been even higher if the 19-year-old
The subjects who participated in this study were
subjects, who were probably no longer in school,
the 71 male contestants who entered the 1981 Mich-
were excluded from the calculation.
igan Teenage Powerlifting Championship. In-
An evaluation of where the lifters obtained their
formed consent was obtained from the subjects. A
knowledge of powerlifting resulted in two interest-
questionnaire, which had been previously pilot
ing relationships. First, there was a tendency to-
tested on college age powenlifters and used in a
ward a direct relationship between percent of
study of contestants in the 1980 Michigan Teenage
knowledge obtained by trial and error and increased
Powenlifting Championship,9 was modified to in-
age. Second, the percent of knowledge obtained
dude additional questions on injury types and sites.
from trained coaches and instructors tended to
Questionnaire items required short fill-in answers
be inversely related to age. On the average, 48.6%
and opinion scale responses. These questions were
of the lifters knowledge of powerlifting was ob-
designed to elicit information about the training,
tamed from trained coaches and instructors. The
experience, and medical history ofthe lifters so that
average subject obtained 26.1% of his knowledge
a profile could be composed. A room, monitored by
from trial and error. Knowledge obtained in this
a proctor familiar with the questionnaire, was set
manner may be somewhat dangerous, especially
aside for its administration. Subjects completed the
when lifting heavy weights.
questionnaire when time breaks occurred in their
Approximately 44% of the subjects engaged in
lifting schedule. (A copy of the questionnaire can
intentional weight loss to compete in a lower weight
be obtained by writing the authors.)
class in the Michigan Teenage Powerlifting Cham-
pionship. Lifters who purposefully lost weight, lost
RESULTS
an average of 7.1 pounds with a maximum loss of
All subjects did not respond to all questionnaire 28 pounds. Data for calculating the percent of body
items and some responses were not interpretable. fat of the subjects and their methods of losing
Therefore, the number of subjects responding to weight were not collected. Therefore, judgment on

638 ADOLESCENT POWERLIFTING

TABLE 2. Subject Training and Experience*
Selected Questionnaire Items Age (yr) Entire
Population
14 15 16 17 18 19 Not
Given
Av powerlifting experience (mo) 11.0 10.9 13.1 11.6 16.0 19.4 15.3 17.1
(2) (11) (15) (10) (14) (4) (3) (59)
Av no. of powerlifting contests previ- 2.5 3.0 2.1 2.3 5.2 6.4 3.2 3.4
ously entered (2) (11) (14) (10) (14) (5) (5) (60)
Av no. of workouts per week 3.5 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.2 3.8 4.3 4.1
(2) (11) (14) (10) (14) (5) (6) (62)
Av time/workout (mm) 105.0 95.5 85.4 107.0 108.9 120.0 73.8 99.2
(2) (10) (14) (10) (14) (5) (4) (59)
Av % of time training
Alone 25.0 10.4 9.0 17.8 42.4 69.0 4.3 23.2
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
With friends, without supervision of 10.0 33.8 33.0 19.4 28.4 30.0 25.8 28.4
trained coach (2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
Under supervision of trained coach 65.0 55.8 58.0 62.8 29.2 1.0 69.8 48.4
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
Av % of time training
At home or friends home 10.0 27.8 9.6 39.6 43.5 32.0 29.3 28.9
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
At gym/YMCA 90.0 20.0 37.1 12.2 25.9 62.0 9.2 28.8
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
At school 0.0 45.4 51.8 39.9 23.4 6.0 59.8 37.7
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
Other 0.0 6.8 1.4 8.3 7.1 0.0 1.7 4.6
(2) (11) (14) (9) (14) (5) (6) (61)
Av % of knowledge about powerlifting
obtained from:
Trial and error 7.5 10.4 23.3 21.9 37.5 70.0 6.0 26.1
(2) (11) (12) (9) (14) (5) (5) (58)
Friends 0.0 29.8 10.0 12.0 12.9 10.0 20.0 15.3
(2) (11) (12) (9) (14) (5) (5) (58)
Trained coaches and instructors 92.5 57.5 61.3 53.9 27.8 8.4 70.0 48.6
(2) (11) (12) (9) (14) (5) (5) (58)
Reading and films 0.0 2.3 5.4 11.1 21.9 11.6 4.0 9.9
(2) (11) (12) (9) (14) (5) (5) (58)
Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
(2) (11) (12) (9) (14) (5) (5) (58)
Av % of treatment of injuries that
caused training discontinuance
Rest 100.0 66.7 73.8 74.8 65.6 99.8 25.0 73.9
(2) (3) (8) (6) (8) (5) (2) (34)
Trainer 0.0 0.0 20.0 0.2 13.8 0.0 0.0 8.0
(2) (3) (8) (6) (8) (5) (2) (34)
Medical doctor, without surgery 0.0 0.0 6.3 25.0 20.6 0.2 75.0 15.2
(2) (3) (8) (6) (8) (5) (2) (34)
Surgery 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
(2) (3) (8) (6) (8) (5) (2) (34)
Other 0.0 33.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.9
(2) (3) (8) (6) (8) (5) (2) (34)
% of contestants who lost weight to en- 50.0 45.4 33.3 40.0 46.2 60.0 60.0 44.3
ter lower weight class (2) (11) (15) (10) (13) (5) (5) (61)
* Number of subjects by grouping who responded to questionnaire items is shown in parentheses.

the beneficial or harmful effects of intentional gions of the body. This information was evaluated
weight loss in this population must be withheld. over three time intervals (when lifting, immediately
after workouts, and between workouts). The de-
scriptive scale for the occurrence of pain ranged
Medical History
from never to always. The descriptive scale for the
Information about the occurrence and level of level of pain ranged from none to severe. The
pain associated with teenage participation in pow- percent of subjects who indicated various scale
erlifting was obtained from the subjects on 13 re- levels is summarized in Fig 2 for the upper extrem-

ARTICLES 639
 PAIN
Occurrence Level

Most of the time Almost never Somewhat severe

Sometimes Moderate to mild None
22! to always to never to severe
Extremity
I 00

75 67 2

Shoulders % 50 40.7

25 22.0 90
0.2 iO.3 iO.3 2 i
0 ____________
l00

75

Elbows % 5
(58)
25
6.9 52 52 8.6 i0. i2.i 8.6 69 69 120 2.0
0 _____________ __________________

100

75

Wrists O/ so
(57)
2: Lis 2i I 22.8 21 I

fI810.5

I 00

75

Hands O/ 50
(57) 21.0
25
r1123 I23
7.0 7.0 5.3 8.8 70 7.0
0 F kW _________________ I
0

Time Interval ! >. 8 8 8 8

S

i!
*Numbers in parentheses are the minimum number of subjects who responded by body region

Fig 2. Upper extremity, occurrence and level of pain. Minimum number of subjects who responded by body region is
shown in parentheses.

ity, Fig 3 for the lower extremity, and Fig 4 for the ing was considerably reduced after and between
axial body. workouts.
In the upper extremity (Fig 2), the greatest per- In the lower extremity (Fig 3), the greatest per-
centage of subjects indicated higher incidences and centage of subjects indicated higher incidences and
levels of pain in the shoulder over the three time levels of pain in the knee over the three time
intervals. When lifting, 32.2% of the subjects mdi- intervals. An occurrence of pain sometimes to al-
cated an occurrence of pain sometimes to always ways in the knee was indicated by 21.6% to 31.6%
and 50.9% indicated a mild to severe level of pain of the subjects over the three time intervals. A mild
in the shoulder region. Pain occurred in the wrists to severe level of pain in the knees over the three
sometimes to most of the time in 26.3% of the time intervals was indicated by 33.3% to 42.2% of
respondents when they were lifting and the level of the subjects. The hip was another region of the
pain in the wrists when lifting was mild to severe lower extremity in which the occurrence of pain
in 31.6% of the subjects. The percent of subjects was increased. Pain occurred in the hips sometimes
indicating an occurrence of pain in the wrists most to most of the time in 12.7%to 19.7% of the re-
of the time to always (10.5%) and a level of wrist spondents over the three time intervals. A mild to
pain somewhat severe to severe (10.5%) when lift- severe level of hip pain was recorded in 21.7% to

640 ADOLESCENT POWERLIFTING

 PAIN
Occurrence Level

Mostofthetime Almostnever Somewhat severe

Sometimes Moderate to mild None
Lower to always to never to severe
Extremity

100 r

Hips
(55)*
% 50 j:25L 16.1
_
26.8 25.4

L . 36 3617 __________
91 11.9
5.4 36

r-k4_0 _______________

100

75 F
Groin % s4.
(58) 25 20.4
I I .9
0L o 0 0 ___________ j4l.7

100

7511
Knees % 54-

(5) 25L

L
15.8

r-
58 17.0 57

r-0 8.8 7 r33.4 32 I 33.3 2.3667

00

75 r
Ankles % 501

(57)
25 L
L 1.7 .8 .8 4ii.8 .8 0 0 0
0.3 88 88

100

75

- ________
Feet % 50
(55)
25
0
000 0 0 0 000

Time Interval .5 - . S
t 2 0 C
a C
-. -: - V

in parentheses ore the minimum number of subjects who responded by body region.

Fig 3. Lower extremity, occurrence and level of pain. Minimum number of subjects who responded by body region is
shown in parentheses.

32.2% of the subjects. back pain level was mild to moderate in 37.9% to
An evaluation of all regions of the body showed 50.0% of the subjects. Only a few subjects indicated
that the axial regions of the upper and lower back a level of pain in the upper back more severe than
had the highest percent of subjects who indicated moderate. Ofall the regions ofthe body, the greatest
an increased occurrence and level of pain (Fig 4). percentage of subjects indicated higher occurrences
In the upper back, 20.7% to 31.0% of the respond- and levels of pain in the low back over the three
ents indicated that they sometimes had pain over time intervals. In fact, 60.0% to 66.7% of these
the three time intervals. Few subjects responded to lifters recorded an occurrence of pain sometimes to
a higher incidence ofpain in this region. The upper always over the three time intervals; only 33.4% to

ARTICLES 641
 PAIN
Occurrence Level

Most of the time Almost never Somewhat severe Moderate to mild None
Sometimes to severe
to always to never
qI
Body Regions
100 r
75 F
Neck
(59)*
%
25L
50-
iso 5.2 36 35.0 339

0 _____________ _Li_ 0 ______________

60.3
I 00

75 [
50.0 50.0

r-i1#{149}r-
Upper %
Back
(53) 25
___________ __________ 207

0 _L!._L7
0 578.6

100

75
Lower
Bock
___ ___ ___
(52)
0/0
25

50L 28 8 40.4 40.0 iii 40.0 21222.8182 952749i ri\

26.9 246 32.7

100

75
Abdomen
% 50
(stomach
region) 22.4
25
(58)
34 3.4 3.4
-LJ.6.9 69
3.4 3.4 3.4
0 ----- I

Time Interval
. . .. .. 8S a 8
V
2 i

I!! #{149}! E

*Nums in parentheses are the minimum number of subjects who responded by body region.

Fig 4. Axial body regions, occurrence and level of pain. Minimum number of subjects who responded by body region
is shown in parentheses.

40.0% recorded an incidence of almost never to recorded. These injuries caused a discontinuance of
never. The level of pain in the low back region was training for a total of 1,126 days or an average of
correspondingly high. Somewhat severe to severe 11.5 successive days discontinued per injury.
pain was indicated by 18.2% to 22.8% of these A summary of injury types reported by the lifters
teenage powerlifters over the three time intervals. is presented in Fig 5 for general information. Valid-
Mild to moderate levels of pain were reported in ity of subject responses regarding injury type may
49.1% to 52.7% of the subjects. be questionable because of their lack of diagnostic
In addition to the occurrence and level of pain, training. Because only 23.2% of all recorded injuries
subjects responded to questionnaire items on types that caused a discontinuance of training were
and sites of injuries that were severe enough to treated by someone trained in diagnosing injury
cause them to discontinue training for at least one types (Table 1), this information would be difficult
day. The results of this phase of the questionnaire to obtain. It is evident that the injury type with the
are shown in Fig 5. Of 71 subjects responding to highest incidence (61.2%), as indicated by the sub-
injury types and sites, 28 subjects recorded at least jects, was muscle pull. Muscle-associated injuries
one injury that caused them to discontinue their (muscle pulls, tendonitis, and cramps) were per-
training. In all, 98 injuries by type and site were ceived to account for 83.6% of all types that caused

642 ADOLESCENT POWERLIFTING

 9
4

4
4,

4,

4
0

4,
cl
w
(J_)
:: .
(I)

>-
c

-, E E
!
;c -;

4, 4, .a

rniii-..

I:!

gi
0 !!1
I-4i0
_2
w
:x:

Vii: .

ARTICLES 643
a discontinuance of training. order to comprehend more fully the risks associated
Injury site evaluation was divided into the regions with participation in.this sport. The subjects se-
of the upper extremity, lower extremity, and axial lected for study were contestants in the 1981 Mich-
body (Fig 5). In the upper extremity, the elbow and igan Teenage Powerlifting Championship. An eva!-
shoulder were sites of the highest incidence of in- uation of their training revealed them to be rela-
jury, each accounting for 6.1% of all injuries. In the tively inexperienced, as would be expected because
lower extremity, the knee was the site of greatest of their age. Fewer than 50% of the subjects had
injury (8.2%). The axial body site of the low back participated in powerlifting for 1 year or more.
accounted for 50% of all incidents of injury sites. However, they trained an average of 6.8 h/wk.
The low back was by far the site with the highest Analysis of the occurrence and level of pain in 13
incidence of injury. regions of the body implicated powenlifting as po-
The percent of total days missed by injury type tentially injurious to the low back, knee, shoulder,
and site was calculated and included in parentheses and elbow. This was substantiated by an evaluation
in Fig 5. These values, in comparison with the of the 98 powerlifting injuries reported by the sub-
respective type and site response percents, provide jects. The low back region was the dominant injury
a scale of immediate injury severity. For example, site; 50% of all injuries occurred in this region. The
6.1% of all incidences of injuries reported were in knee, shoulder, and elbow were other sites of ele-
the elbow. These elbow injuries caused a discontin- vated injury occurrences. Musculoskeletal injuries
uance of training equal to 12.9% of the total days (muscle pulls, tendonitis, cramps, sprains, broken
discontinued due to all injuries. Therefore, elbow bones, and dislocations) were perceived to account
injuries caused a disproportionately longer discon- for 90.7% of all injury types.
tinuance of training than the average injury. On The findings are specific to the teenage popula-
the other hand, low back injuries caused a dispro- tion studied. However, the results can provide input
portionately short stoppage of training. A similar into an assessment of the immediate risks of pow-
comparison by injury type can be made by using erlifting relative to the purported benefits of this
the pairs of calculated percentage values in Fig 5. sport. Because this study was cross sectional, prog-
Muscle pulls, cramps, abrasions, and sprains, on nosis about the long-term effects of powerlifting is
the average, tended to be less debilitating than not warranted, but is in need of further study. The
tendonitis, nerve injuries, broken bones, and dislo- findings of this study are not only important to
cations. those associated with teenage powerlifting, but also
What relationships existed between the site of to the many young athletes who perform powerlifts
pain (Figs 2 to 4) and the sites of injuries (Fig 5)? as part of their weight training program for other
First, it should be noted that chest and thigh were sports.
not included as response areas under questionnaire
items related to the occurrence and level of pain. REFERENCES
Therefore, no relationships could be drawn about 1. Patterson C: Official Rules ofthe International Powerlifting
these areas. However, other sites with high injury Association. Cedar Hill, TX, AAU-TPBA, 1978, pp, 19, 21
2. Kuland DN, Dewey JB, Brubaker CE, et al: Olympic weight-
response percents (knee, shoulder, elbow, and low lifting injuries. Physician Sports Med 1978;6:111
back) were also regions of the body in which a 3. Kotani PT, Ichikawa N, Wakabayashi W, et al: Studies of
higher percent of subjects indicated elevated occur- spondylolysis found among weight lifters. Br J Sports Med
1971;6:4
rences and levels of pain. This relationship is most 4. American Academy of Pediatrics: Committee on Sports
evident in the low back region where: (1) the great- Medicine: Weight Training and Weight Lifting Information
est percent of subjects indicated higher occurrences for the Pediatrician. News and Comment 1982;35:7
5. Troup JDG: The risk of weight-training and weight lifting
and levels of pain; (2) 50% of all powerlifting inju- in young people: functional anatomy of the spine. Br J
ries were reported to have occurred; and (3) 41.3% Sports Med 1970;5:27

of the total days of training missed due to injury 6. Gray H: Grays Anatomy: The Classic Collectors Edition.
New York, Bounty Books, 1977
occurred. 7. Mason TA: Is weight lifting deleterious to the spines of
young people? Br J Sports Med 1970;5:54
DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY 8. Jesse JP: Olympic Lifting Movements Endanger Adoles-
cents.Physician Sports Med 1977:5:61
This study was conducted to construct a profile 9. Brown EW: Kinematics, kinetics and joint pain associated
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644 ADOLESCENT POWERLIFTING