Are early or late maturers likely to be fitter in the general population?

Autor/inn/en	Nevill, Alan M.; Negra, Yassine; Myers, Tony D.; Duncan, Michael J.; Chaabène, Helmi; Granacher, Urs
Titel	Are early or late maturers likely to be fitter in the general population? Gefälligkeitsübersetzung: Sind Früh- oder Spätstarter in der Allgemeinbevölkerung eher fitter?
Quelle	In: International journal of environmental research and public health, 18 (2021) 2, [16 S.] PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1660-4601; 1661-7827
DOI	10.3390/ijerph18020497
Schlagwörter	Leistungsanalyse; Leistungsfähigkeit; Lebensalter; Junge; Geschlechtsspezifischer Unterschied; Kind; Hand; Körpergewicht; Körpergröße; Physische Leistungsfähigkeit; Bewegung (Motorische); Fitness; Fitnesstest; Kraft (Physiol); Sport; Sportunterricht; Springen; Sprint; Alter; Leistung; Richtung; Talentsuche; Jugendlicher; Mädchen; Tunesien
Abstract	The present study aims to identify the optimal body-size/shape and maturity characteristics associated with superior fitness test performances having controlled for body-size, sex, and chronological-age differences. The sample consisted of 597 Tunisian children (396 boys and 201 girls) aged 8 to 15 years. Three sprint speeds recorded at 10, 20 and 30 m; two vertical and two horizontal jump tests; a change-of-direction and a handgrip-strength tests, were assessed during physical-education classes. Allometric modelling was used to identify the benefit of being an early or late maturer. Findings showed that being tall and light is the ideal shape to be successful at most physical fitness tests, but the height-to-weight "shape" ratio seems to be test-dependent. Having controlled for body-size/shape, sex, and chronological age, the model identified maturity-offset as an additional predictor. Boys who go earlier/younger through peak-height-velocity (PHV) outperform those who go at a later/older age. However, most of the girls' physical-fitness tests peaked at the age at PHV and decline thereafter. Girls whose age at PHV was near the middle of the age range would appear to have an advantage compared to early or late maturers. These findings have important implications for talent scouts and coaches wishing to recruit children into their sports/athletic clubs. (Autor).
Erfasst von	Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft, Bonn
Update	2024/1