Growth and maturation

Abstract

Abstract The concepts of a child’s growth and maturation are central to all studies related to paediatric exercise science. It is imperative that any studies investigating responses to exercise and/or physical activity take into consideration the growth and maturity status of the participant. Distinguishing influences of physical activity and/or exercise on growth from those associated with normal growth and development is problematic. This is because the effects of normal growth and maturation can mask those associated with exercise. As children grow, they become taller and heavier, they increase their lean and fat tissues, and their organs increase in size, which all affect performance outcomes. Children also mature into the adult state. The major distinction between size per se and maturation is that all children eventually achieve the same adult maturity, whereas adult size and body dimensions vary considerably. It is therefore important to remember that growth and maturation occur simultaneously and interact. There are also sex differences with girls reaching maturity, on average, 2 years earlier than boys. However, both sexes show the same patterns in growth, both in terms of the curve of growth and the changes in proportionality. There is wide variation among children both within and between sexes as to the exact timing and tempo of maturation. Therefore, to adequately distinguish the effects of exercise and/or physical activity on a group of children, biological maturity needs to be controlled. The most widely used methods to assess maturity are skeletal maturity, sexual maturity, and somatic or morphological maturity.