Aerobic power as related to body growth and training in Japanese boys: a longitudinal study

Maximal aerobic power was measured for 5-6 successive years in 50 Japanese schoolboys starting from the age of 9 or 13 yr. and for 2-3 yr in 6 superior junior runners from the age of 14 yr. A large increase in aerobic power was observed during the adolescent growth spurt for 7 schoolboys who trained between the ages of 9 and 14 yr. Aerobic power for 43 average schoolboys increased from 45.0 to 52.2 ml/kg.min between the ages of 13 and 17 yr. The aerobic power of 6 superior junior runners increased from 63.4 to 73.4 ml/kg.min between the ages of 14 and 17 yr. A remarkable increase in aerobic power was not observed in trained boys before the age of peak height growth velocity (PHV). Beginning approximately 1 yr prior to the age of PHV and thereafter, training effectively increased aerobic power above the normal increase attributable to age and growth. The highly developed aerobic power found in superior junior runners may have been derived from strenuous training and partially by genetically superior endowment.