Maturation and Exercise Training in Children
1Department of Physical Education, Anderson Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
Pediatric Exercise Science
|March 23, 2023
Summary
Intense exercise training in children shows similar growth rates for athletes and non-athletes. However, female athletes may experience delayed puberty, particularly menarche, necessitating monitoring of strenuous training programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric exercise science
- Sports medicine
- Human growth and development
Background:
- Understanding the impact of exercise on child development is crucial for public health.
- Athletic participation in children is widespread, necessitating research into its effects on maturation.
- Previous studies suggest potential disruptions in pubertal development for young athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of exercise training on somatic, skeletal, and sexual maturation in children.
- To investigate potential delays in pubertal development among young athletes, particularly female athletes.
- To explore genetic and environmental factors influencing maturation in response to training.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on exercise, growth, and maturation in children.
- Analysis of somatic, skeletal, and sexual maturation indicators in young athletes versus non-athletes.
- Exploration of potential causative mechanisms for observed maturational differences.
Main Results:
- Children involved in exercise training exhibit comparable growth rates and extent to non-athletes.
- Evidence suggests a potential delay in pubertal development for young female athletes.
- Menarche (first menstruation) is more consistently delayed than thelarche (breast development) or pubarche (pubic hair development).
Conclusions:
- While overall growth is unaffected, strenuous exercise may impact the timing of sexual maturation in female athletes.
- Further longitudinal studies collecting physical and hormonal data in both male and female athletes are required.
- Current recommendations include encouraging regular physical activity for all children while monitoring maturational progress in those undertaking intensive training.
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