Medical Professionals Warn Against Extreme Weight Training for 10-Year-Old After Viral Incident
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago8 MIN
Summary
A disturbing video went viral on social media showing a 10-year-old girl in Tuen Mun struggling to carry 16 cans of beer weighing approximately 8 to 8.5 kilograms up a steep path near Fu Tai Estate. The girl's stepfather was filmed walking beside her without offering help, leading to widespread public criticism . When questioned, the mother claimed the heavy lifting was intended as "muscle training" for her daughter . Medical professionals, including a chiropractor and a registered physiotherapist, have condemned the practice, warning it poses serious risks to the child's physical development and could cause lasting harm to her musculoskeletal system.
Key Points
- The incident occurred on October 6, 2026, when the 10-year-old girl, wearing her school uniform, was filmed carrying two bags containing 16 cans of 500ml beer up a slope in Fu Tai Estate, Tuen Mun. The total weight of the beer alone reached approximately 8 to 8.5 kilograms (18 pounds), with experts estimating her total load including her school bag exceeded 25 pounds .
- Chiropractor Wang Chun-hua (王俊華) stated that for children, daily weight-bearing activities such as carrying school bags should not exceed 10% to 15% of their body weight. For beginner-level strength or rehabilitation training, the safe limit is even lower at just 5% of body weight, which for a typical 10-year-old girl weighing 30 kilograms would be approximately 1.5 kilograms .
- According to medical records, the girl reportedly has Kawasaki Disease, a condition affecting small and medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body. Chiropractor Wang explained that when the heart muscle becomes inflamed, it can cause widespread fatigue, weakness, and muscle soreness, making extreme weight-bearing activities completely inappropriate for such a patient .
- Registered physiotherapist Huang Guanfeng (黃冠峰) warned that young children often cannot clearly express their pain and may grit their teeth to endure discomfort. The fact that the girl was frequently pausing during the walk clearly indicated that the load had far exceeded her physical capacity, risking muscle strains, ligament damage, and potential inflammation of muscles and tendons .
- Both medical experts recommended bodyweight exercises as safe alternatives for children. Physiotherapist Huang suggested fun coordination activities such as "wheelbarrow" games where family members lift the child's legs while they walk on their hands, as well as age-appropriate exercises like modified push-ups and plank holds .
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the critical need for parental education regarding child physical development and safe training practices in Hong Kong. Medical professionals emphasize that improper weight-bearing activities during childhood can cause irreversible damage to growth plates, leading to long-term consequences for height and skeletal development . The case also underscores broader concerns about child welfare and the responsibility of caregivers to ensure activities are age-appropriate and medically safe, particularly when underlying health conditions are present.
This incident highlights the critical need for parental education regarding child physical development and safe training practices in Hong Kong. Medical professionals emphasize that improper weight-bearing activities during childhood can cause irreversible damage to growth plates, leading to long-term consequences for height and skeletal development . The case also underscores broader concerns about child welfare and the responsibility of caregivers to ensure activities are age-appropriate and medically safe, particularly when underlying health conditions are present.