The influence of training on physical and functional growth before, during and after puberty

Summary

In boys, the ages at which growth rates for body weight, height, $\dot V_{O_{2max} }$, maximum O₂ pulse and İ max reached their peaks were approximately the same (means and SD: 14.64±0.98, 14.67±0.99, 14.71±1.59, 14.38±1.36 and 14.64±1.42 years respectively). There was a positive relationship between the peak velocities of functional capacity indicators ($\dot V_{O_{2max} }$ 0.79±0.19 l · min⁻¹ · year⁻¹, O₂ pulse max 4.1±1.20 ml · year⁻¹, İ max 27.3±7.15 l · min⁻¹ · year⁻¹) and the peak growth velocity of weight and/or height (weight 9.1±1.92 kg · year⁻¹, height 9.8±1.92 cm · year⁻¹). A positive relationship between the age at peak velocity of $\dot V_{O_{2max} }$ and O₂ pulse max with the age at peak velocity for body weight was also found (r=0.524 and 0.400 respectively). No relationship was revealed between the age at peak velocity on the one hand and the peak velocities of body weight, height, $\dot V_{O_{2max} }$, O₂ pulse or İ max on the other. Moderate training did not influence acceleration in growth — the age at peak velocity and the peaks of the growth rate did not differ in groups with a different regime of exercise (higher — n=8, medium — n=9, lower — n=12; the peak velocity of $\dot V_{O_{2max} }$ — means and SD — being 0.85±0.15, 0.76±0.22 and 0.78±0.17 · min⁻¹ · year⁻¹ respectively).