010-111 · Question #56
Which of the following statements is true regarding exercise for the prepubescent child?
The correct answer is A. Children are less tolerant of heat because of a higher threshold for sweating. Prepubescent children have a higher core temperature threshold before sweating begins and fewer active sweat glands per body surface area, making them less tolerant of heat stress during exercise than adults.
Question
Which of the following statements is true regarding exercise for the prepubescent child?
Options
- AChildren are less tolerant of heat because of a higher threshold for sweating.
- BSince children are anatomically immature, they should not participate in any form of resistance
- CBecause of the lack of development of the epiphyseal growth plates, children should not
- DBoth B and C are true
How the community answered
(60 responses)- A75% (45)
- B15% (9)
- C3% (2)
- D7% (4)
Why each option
Prepubescent children have a higher core temperature threshold before sweating begins and fewer active sweat glands per body surface area, making them less tolerant of heat stress during exercise than adults.
Children require a higher core temperature before sweating is triggered and produce less sweat per gland than adults, which limits their capacity for evaporative cooling during exercise. These physiological differences increase children's vulnerability to heat-related illness, requiring exercise professionals to carefully monitor environmental conditions, exercise intensity, and hydration status when working with this population.
Evidence-based guidelines from ACSM and other authorities support age-appropriate resistance training for prepubescent children; it is not contraindicated and can safely improve muscular strength and motor skill development under proper supervision.
The presence of epiphyseal growth plates does not prohibit exercise in children; rather, it warrants avoiding maximal compressive or high-impact loading that could damage the physis, not complete avoidance of physical activity or resistance training.
Because both B and C individually present false claims - that children cannot do resistance training and that growth plates prohibit exercise - the combined assertion that both are true is also incorrect.
Concept tested: Thermoregulation limitations in prepubescent children during exercise
Source: https://www.acsm.org/education-resources/trending-topics-resources/physical-activity-guidelines
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