Prediction of maturity offset and age at peak height velocity in a longitudinal series of boys and girls

Abstract

Background: Predicted maturity offset, defined as time before peak height velocity (PHV) is increasingly used as an indicator of maturity status in studies of physical activity, fitness, and sport. Objective: To validate maturity offset prediction equations in longitudinal samples of boys and girls. Methods: The original and modified maturity offset prediction equations were applied to serial data for 266 boys (8-17 years) and 147 girls (8-16 years) from the Cracow Growth Study. Actual age at PHV for each youngster was estimated with the SITAR protocol. In addition to maturity offset, the difference between CA at prediction and maturity offset provided an estimate of predicted age at PHV. Results: Predicted maturity offset and age at PHV increased, on average, with CA at prediction. Variation in predictions was reduced compared to that in observed ages at offset and at PHV, and was more apparent with the modified equations. Relatively few predicted ages at PHV approximated observed age at PHV in early and late maturing youth of both sexes; predictions were later than observed among the former, and earlier than observed among the latter. Conclusion:Predicted maturity offset and ages at PHV with the original and modified equations increase with CA at prediction, have reduced variation, and have major limitations with early and late maturing boys and girls.

Growth and Maturity Status of Female Soccer Players: A Narrative Review

“…Predicted maturity offset increased linearly with CA ( Figure 3A) and with height ( Figure 3B) at prediction in the samples of soccer players. The trends in soccer players were consistent with CA-related trends in three longitudinal studies of girls [57,82,83], which also noted reduced variability in predicted maturity offset and in ages at PHV, and major limitations of the predictions among earlyand late-maturing girls defined by observed age at PHV.…”

“…Although predicted maturity offset (defined as the time before PHV) and estimated age at PHV (CA at prediction minus maturity offset) are increasingly applied in studies of youth athletes, including female soccer players (Figures 3 and 4), intra-individual variation depending on CA at prediction is considerable. The predictions also have major limitations differentiating between early-and late-maturing youth defined by observed age at PHV [75,82,83]. Predicted ages at PHV are later than observed age at PHV among early-maturing girls and earlier than observed age at PHV in late-maturing girls.…”

Observed and predicted ages at peak height velocity in soccer players

“…The original sex-specific equations require CA, sitting height, estimated leg length, height and weight [1], while the modified equations [2] require CA and height (both sexes) or sitting height (boys). Validation studies of the original equations in three independent longitudinal series, the Wroclaw Growth Study [7,8], the Fels Longitudinal Study [9] and the Cracow Growth Study [10], and of the modified equations in two of the samples [10,11] have indicated major limitations of the predictions in both males and females. The validity of the prediction equations has also been questioned in longitudinal samples of female artistic gymnasts [12] and soccer players [13,14], but sample sizes in longitudinal samples tend to be limited and to some extent select as they are limited to athletes who have persisted in the respective sports [15].…”

“…Current interest in the application of the maturity offset prediction equations in samples of youth athletes is considerable [3][4][5][6]. Predictions based on the original and modified equations, however, depend upon CA and body size at prediction, have reduced variation relative to observed ages at PHV, and have major limitations with early and late maturing youth as defined by observed ages at PHV [7][8][9][10][11]. The latter are problematic as advanced (early for CA) or delayed (late for CA) maturity status is often of major concern in developmental studies of youth athletes [15].…”

Young soccer players aggrupation for conditioning trainings according to players’ maturation and physical performance: A practical example (Agrupación de jóvenes jugadores de fútbol para los entrenamientos de acondicionamiento de acuerdo a su maduración

“…The Maturity Offset proposed by Mirwald et al, (2002) was used to estimate the players' maturity status. Although this formula has been recently improved (Malina et al, 2020), the estimation of the years from/ to the PHV is one of the most commonly used indicators of maturity status in young soccer players (Malina et al, 2020). In addition, it is a simple non-invasive and non-expensive way to estimate the players' maturity status by coaches and trainers based on the players' anthropometrical variables.…”