A case study of daily growth during adolescence: a single spurt or changes in the dynamics of saltatory growth?

Standing height of one adolescent male was measured daily between the ages of 12.83 and 13.95 years on 328 days out of 389 consecutive days according to standard techniques for maximal stature measurement. The serial growth data were analysed by a modification of techniques developed to identify patterns in serial hormone data. The entire growth in height during this interval occurred during 12 non-periodic saltatory episodes with amplitude of 0.92 +/- 0.09 cm (SEM) in < or = 24 h separated by 3-100 days of no significant growth. The proposition that adolescent growth is characterized by a change in the dynamics of growth saltus amplitude and/or frequency is suggested.