“How can I increase my daughter's muscle strength?”
My daughter is 5 years old and has recently started skating. While she is healthy, I feel like she lacks some muscle strength. Can I give her some health supplements for this?
9 Answers
At this age, supplements are under studied for many reasons. For your daughter’s body immaturity, just making sure she is eating enough calories and a balanced diet is very helpful. Additionally, enough sleep is important.
A good children's multivitamin will do all that can be done for a child in this age group.
There are no good supplements for children, besides the standard multivitamins. Eating a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, that is fortified with vitamin D and a good proteins source should help significantly with muscle building and strength. Activities like weightlifting actually been proven to help in children and do not affect their growth plates.
Not necessary at this time. Would focus on healthy diet, and broad spectrum of activities.
A normal balanced diet is all she needs. I would suggest an orthopedic exam and referral to a physical therapist for instructions on a home exercise program.
First, you should make sure she is getting good nutritious meals throughout the day. You may need to see a Pediatrician or Nutritionist to tailor her diet to her physical workload. A proper young athlete's diet does not need to involve supplements.
She should not need any supplements. A good balanced diet which includes calcium rich and protein rich foods. Dairy products, e.g., milk, cheese, yogurts, etc. Protein-rich foods include meat, chicken, fish, turkey, etc.
Mark Burt M.D.
Mark Burt M.D.
Really cannot actually strengthen a 5-year-old girl. Hormones and such just are not available yet. What is very important, however, is not to overly focus on a single specific sport so young. Multiple sports and skills, thus "cross training" so she is well-balanced with all of her skills is the best way to develop a well-balanced, safe athlete.
A well-balanced diet is usually all that is needed for proper growth. As her activity level increases, her body will naturally "crave" more energy, which will typically increase her appetite. Balancing proteins and carbs as well as some healthy fats in moderation should support normal growth. Routine visits with her pediatrician are also highly recommended to make sure her growth is on track for her age.
