Comparison Between Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Data for Changes in Anthropometric and Performance Parameters...

The present study compared cross-sectional (CS) and longitudinal (LT) data for changes in anthropometric and performance parameters in junior speed skaters to examine how well the CS data reflects individual LT changes.

The CS data consisted of 404 Japanese male skaters of 11 (n = 60), 12 (n = 67), 13 (n = 73), 14 (n = 69), 15 (n = 53), 16 (n = 40), and 17 years (n = 42) taken between 2004 and 2019. The LT data followed 11 other male skaters whose 6 consecutive year (11-17 y) data were available. Outcome measures included height, body mass, body mass index, lower limb circumferences, muscle thicknesses, maximal anaerobic power during 10-second maximal bicycle pedaling, peak speed in slide bord skating, and average ice-skating speed in 500 m.

The average values of the measures were not different (P = .795-.999) between the CS and LT data at any age (eg, body mass index: 21.7 [2.0] vs 22.3 [2.3] kg/m2; anterior thigh muscle thicknesses: 60.5 [5.1] vs 60.5 [4.5] mm; maximal anaerobic power: 1022 [141] vs 1026 [164] W; average ice-skating speed in 500 m: 12.5 [0.4] vs 12.5 [0.4] m/s at 17 y). Changes in the measures from 11 to 17 years were not different (P = .750-.998) between the CS and LT data.

These findings suggest that the CS data approximate individual developmental trends, when cohort bias is adequately controlled, but cannot substitute for LT analyses.