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Physical and pubertal development in young male gymnasts
Brendon Gurd1, Panagiota Klentrou
1Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada L2S 3A1.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|June 17, 2003
Summary
Intense training in young male gymnasts increases energy expenditure and lowers body fat but does not affect physical growth or sexual maturation. Their development is linked to testosterone, not training intensity.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Intense physical training in young athletes may impact growth and maturation.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for athlete health and performance.
- Male gymnasts undergo rigorous training from a young age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of intense training on physical growth and sexual maturation in young male gymnasts.
- To compare physical development, pubertal status, and hormonal profiles between gymnasts and controls.
Main Methods:
- Compared 21 male gymnasts with 24 age-matched controls.
- Assessed Tanner scale for pubertal development, salivary testosterone (T), height, weight, energy expenditure, and body fat percentage (%BF).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in developmental stages, T, height, or weight between groups.
- Gymnasts had higher energy expenditure and lower %BF than controls.
- Energy expenditure correlated negatively with %BF; developmental stages correlated with T.
Conclusions:
- Intense training in young male gymnasts is associated with higher energy expenditure and altered body composition (lower %BF).
- However, training intensity does not appear to negatively affect physical growth or sexual maturation.
- Pubertal development is primarily influenced by testosterone levels, not directly by training volume or energy expenditure.