Maturity-associated variation in the body size and proportions of elite female gymnasts 14–17 years of age

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in the size and body proportions of elite female gymnasts associated with individual differences in maturity status. The subjects were 150 gymnasts, 14.0-17.9 years of age, who had participated in the 24th World Championship in Artistic Gymnastics, Rotterdam. Height, body mass, sitting height and biacromial and bicristal breadths were measured. Leg length was estimated as the height minus sitting height, and the ratio of sitting height to height was calculated. Information on menarcheal status was obtained by means of a questionnaire, and hand-wrist radiographs were taken to assess skeletal maturity status. For the purpose of data analysis the gymnasts were divided into three maturity groups within each single-year chronological age (CA) group from 14 to 17 years: pre-menarcheal (n=65); post-menarcheal but not skeletally mature (SA<16.0 years, n=37); post-menarcheal, skeletally mature (n=48). Differences among the groups were tested with analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests. The results showed that pre-menarcheal gymnasts are smaller in all dimensions compared to post-menarcheal gymnasts in all age groups but that the significance of differences varies. Post-menarcheal, skeletally mature gymnasts are heavier than pre-menarcheal gymnasts, but weight does not differ between gymnasts in the two post-menarcheal groups (with one exception, 16 years). Post-menarcheal, skeletally mature gymnasts have proportionally shorter legs than gymnasts in the other two maturity categories. Elite gymnasts of contrasting maturity status show similar trends in body size and proportions similar to those of non-athlete adolescent girls of contrasting maturity status. The results highlight the need to consider maturity-associated variation in the body dimensions of gymnasts before attributing their characteristics to the demands of regular training.

The International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on age determination in high-level young athletes

“…The figures for the girls were 12.7 and 13.5 years, respectively 82. A different pattern was seen by Claessens et al 83 in adolescent elite female gymnasts. In some groups, for example adolescents 17 years of age, the chronological age was up to 3 years higher than the bone age measured by the TW2 method.…”

Biological maturation of youth athletes: assessment and implications

“…Taller and heavier high school female gymnasts (relative to sport peers) perceived their coaches as less reinforcing, encouraging and instructive, and as more likely to ignore mistakes and engage in punitive behaviours irrespective of ability 115. Performance scores of participants in the 1987 artistic gymnastics World Championship were higher for premenarcheal than postmenarcheal gymnasts within single year CA groups 14 to 16 years,50 and had moderate negative relationships with subcutaneous fatness and endomorphy. 116 The latter is interesting as elite gymnasts are typically quite lean.…”

Interação entre leptina, ginástica artística, puberdade e exercício em atletas do sexo feminino

“…Para atingir resultados expressivos na GA, além das capacidades físico-motoras e habilidades técnicas, as atletas devem apresentar características antropométricas específicas, como a baixa estatura, a baixa massa corporal e grande força muscular (Munôz et al, 2004;clAeSSenS et al, 2006). Os treinamentos na GA são iniciados em idades entre 5 e 7 anos (georgoPouloS et al, 2004;erlAndSon et al, 2008).…”

“…Quando se analisa o perfil antropométrico de atletas da GA, verifica-se que estas apresentam baixa estatura, baixo peso corporal e baixas taxas de gordura corporal em relação à média populacional, tal como observado por Claessens et al (1992), quando comparou peso e estatura de atletas de GA com o grupo controle da mesma idade cronológica (Tabela 1). Claessens et al (1992).…”

“…O estudo conduzido por Claessens et al (2006) comparou a maturação em atletas-ginastas com um grupo controle por meio da ocorrência de menarca, associada à maturação esquelética. Os autores verificaram que as ginastas apresentam idades de menarca e maturação esquelética tardia em relação à média populacional, ou seja, entre 14 e 17 anos.…”