kid-size nautilis equipment

Kathy,

I have personally used Nautilas machince for over 20 years... unfortunately the last 2 years have not been included in that total..

The Nautilas machine is one of my favorites! JIm mentioned some of the pros and cons and suggested free weights... I preferred machines because I frequently worked out alone!... with free wieghts you often need a spotter.

The only concern is the effects on the growth plates of a growing child. These growth plates are not as strong as rest of the bone and tendons... it can be pulled away from the rest of bone and cause growth problems.... I had a discussion with Max Ratafor on the SETPRO pitching board onthis very subject... I suggest you go to http://setpro.com/cgi-bin/ultimate.cgi and see the Growth plate topic by RADMAN and read all the information...Reserve yourself a few hours (there's that much) and then make your own decisions about wieght lifting....

... Nautilas equipment is WEIGHT lifting....

My son had a football injury (stress fracture in the shoulder right at the growth palte) that was mis-diagnosed as tendonitis and after some rehab we continued pitching and may have caused additonal damage to the area.... Ever since I have been very gun shy about anything concerning growth plates.

Plus several experts recommend developing "Core skeletal" muscles prior to worrying about other muscles.... the programs include pull ups, push ups, lots of stretching and lots of odd body movements and jumping (or stepping) exercises similar to PYLOMETRICS.... The only real weights involved is body weight.... Harlan Servare (sp?) ex Chargers and Rams coach runs a program where he allows some local boys to participate. The workout he does is as tough a workout as I've ever done and I didn't lift a weight once.... and my son loved it ...although he said it was tough....I've seen Pro football players who couldn't complete the workout their first time out.
.