Image is everything with today’s youth and many youth want to exercise and use equipment like adults, however is it safe? How old do you have to be to use equipment like the Bowflex?

While there is little information from the manufacturer on this point, using a Bowflex is similar to any other weight training situation. That being said, determining at what age you can start using a Bowflex is a matter of common sense.

Children continually grow sometimes until they are 18 years old. This means that the configurations of bones, tissues, and muscles are constantly changing. You need to keep this in mind when determining if your child is old enough to begin strength training.

The American Academy of Pediatrics supports children who participate in properly designed and supervised training programs, including those that incorporate the use of machinery such as the Bowflex. Light strength training is good at any age. This is especially true if a young child is involved in other sports like little league or gymnastics.

The key to using a Bowflex or any other training program with a youth is proper training on how to use the equipment. Improper use at any age can cause serious injury to muscles, tendons, and possibly bone. So if this is your first time using the Bowflex, you’ll want to work with the machine for a while before showing a youngster the ropes.

Once you are confident in the knowledge and use of the Bowflex, here are some basic guidelines for its use with children or young adults.

o Abundant fluid intake

o Well bed area

o Maximum three days a week

o Beginners should do one set of ten repetitions for each major muscle, starting with light weight or resistance.

o No elevation or max resistance

o Training must be part of a complete fitness program, including nutrition.

By following these steps and a little common sense, your teen will benefit from strength training with you. It should be noted that you should never start any type of training without first consulting a doctor about the fitness level of you and your child if you train together. How old do you have to be to use a Bowflex? Old enough to take proper instructions on the proper use of the machine.