Evidence of weight lifting can be traced back to human origins. As far back as cave paintings and scrolls, there has been evidence of weight lifting. Initially as an expression of strength, then for competition and functional training, weightlifting has traced its path through the centuries. It has taken on a new role in the modern world; athletic training. With a whole new emphasis in sports on speed, strength and flexibility; weightlifting is more popular than ever. Unfortunately, young athletes often do more harm than good by injuring themselves while lifting. When these uneducated athletes try to jump straight into a program, lifting more than they should, an injury is imminent. What gets overlooked is that when weight lifting is done correctly, it has great potential to prevent injuries instead of causing them. Understanding how your body works, using correct technique on appropriate lifts, and participating in regular physical activity can greatly reduce your risk of athletic injury. Weightlifting is a broad term used to represent a vast number of actual exercises and styles. Weight lifting can be divided into weight training, bodybuilding, fitness lifting, isometric training, resistance training and athletic training. While they have similarities, their focus often separates them. Weight training generally means the quest to become as strong as possible and uses dead weights such as dumbbells and barbells. Bodybuilders aim to gain the most muscle mass and often have a very small body fat percentage. Fitness training or resistance training is often performed with low weight and high repetitions to develop muscular endurance and general, non-athletic physical fitness. In isomeric training, the muscles and joints do not... middle of paper......nfitness.net/stablizermuscle.htm>Hoffman, Matthew. "The Seven Most Common Sports Injuries." Network. September 22, 2011 Kleiner, Susan M. and Jeff O'Connell. The Powerfood Nutrition Plan: The Guy's Guide to Getting Stronger, Leaner, Smarter, Healthier, More Beautiful, and Having Better Sex with Food! Emmaus, Penn.: Rodale, 2006. Print. “Knee Pain and Sports Injuries.” Network. September 22, 2011.Renolds, Gretchen. “Physics Education: The Benefits of Weight Training for Children.” New York Times November 24, 2010, Health section. Print.Walker, Doug. “The Benefits of Strength Training.” TheTrainingStationInc.com, The Training Station. Network. September 12, 2011. "Benefits of Weightlifting." Network. 12 September. 2011. .