The topic that weightlifting can stunt growth may seem like a myth to most, but as I was doing some reading, I’ve found that bone maturation is related to estrogen levels. More specifically, estrogen induces the closing of the growth place. If weightlifting increases free testosterone levels, then in individuals who tend to aromatize testosterone this would lead to an increase in estrogen levels too, therefore the closure of the growth plates.
Also I would like to add that non-aromatizing AAS do not interfere with bone growth, but the ones that aromatize more easily do cause stunted growth.
The notion that testosterone levels rise after intense workouts can not be directly applied to this situation.
Do you know how large/small the rise in testosterone (and GH) is after intense workouts?
This theory has to be wrong simply because of how many people have grown taller after lifting weights. I guarentee you can find hundreds on this site alone.
The whole thing about AAS stunting bone growth is not a fact yet either. It is likely true that the hormone fluctuation will affect some percentage of the population. But using non-aromatizing AAS doesn’t put one in the clear. Coming off non-aromatizeable AAS can still cause fluctuations in hormone levels, especially if not used correctly. But yes, AAS that convert to estrogen are more likely to cause problems with stunted height.
What happens when testosterone levels fall after training?
Look, the entire idea that any small testosterone or GH output during training is so massive that it can literally directly affect muscle growth like an anabolic agent is bogus. That means worrying about this as if someone under the age of 21 isn’t already experiencing fluctuations and increases of hormones makes no sense.
Further, the over 60% occurrence of gynecomastia in this country among the male population would lead me to believe that environmental estrogens are a much greater risk than whether someone lifts a weight.
As someone without a lick of medical training/knowledge, I feel tempted to have an opinion on a subject I know nothing about, heh heh
IS the OP saying that: kids who start lifting and eating big mature faster in general compared to non-lifting individuals and possibly demonstrate a higher level of testosterone compared to kids who don’t start lifting. Then this SHOULD be a good thing as far as bone growth is concerned and kids who lift and eat right young should grow BETTER than others. The caveat being, that if there is a dramatic surge in testosterone causing the body to think the individual has prematurely attained adulthood, thereby releasing estrogen to shut down the growth plates. OP, is this your general flow of logic?
If so, in my ignorant yet proud opinion, your theory assumes that the hormonal output from lifting has already been quantified/vastly overestimated like PX and the others seem to be saying…
OT, for those of you who KNOW somethign about the subject, if someone could artificially lower estrogen levels beginning from puberty, would that mean the growth plates will NEVER close since there’s no free estrogen to signal the closing?