![]() In combination with training age, which is defined as the number of years an athlete has been participating in formalized training ( 31,47), regular monitoring of biological maturity is recommended to enable training prescription to be designed with an appreciation of the unique physical and physiological processes that are taking place as a result of maturation ( 31). Pediatric researchers and clinicians have noted the importance of considering biological maturation to develop appropriate training programs to optimize training adaptation and minimize activity-related injury risk ( 20,31,32). Figure 1:ĭifferences in developmental trends of chronological age and biological maturation of early- and late-maturing boys (left) and girls (right), based on theoretical data. The relative mismatch and wide variation in biological maturation between children of the same chronological age emphasizes the limitations in using chronological age as a determinant in global exercise prescription for school-age youth. The figure also demonstrates the theoretical differential maturation rates for early- and late-maturing individuals. the nonlinear development of sexual maturation in both males and females. Based on theoretical data, Figure 1 shows the difference in linear development of chronological age vs. Dependent on these variables, children will be viewed as either biologically ahead of their chronological age (early-maturing individual), “on-time” with their chronological age (average maturer), or behind their chronological age (late-maturing individual) ( 35). Significant interindividual variance exists for the level (magnitude of change), timing (onset of change), and tempo (rate of change) of biological maturation. Biological maturation refers to progress toward a mature state and varies in timing and tempo and between different bodily systems ( 4). However, literature has clearly demonstrated that individuals of the same chronological age can differ markedly with respect to biological maturity ( 3,26,54). For the purpose of this article, the term “practitioners” will refer globally to strength and conditioning coaches, youth sport coaches, physical education teachers, athletic trainers, physiotherapists, and health care providers.Ĭhronological age, which is calculated as a single time point away from the date of birth, has traditionally been used in sports to group age grade teams, identify talented performers, and set limits for exercise prescription. Consequently, this article will critically analyze existing literature to (a) define the terminology associated with the different age classifications, (b) review existing methods of assessing maturation, and (c) demonstrate how the assessment of maturation can be of multiple benefits to practitioners. Although researchers have examined the influence of growth and maturation on physical performance in youth, practical information on different classifications of maturational assessments and their proper use by practitioners is limited. However, when working with either children or adolescents such changes in performance can be significantly affected by growth and maturational factors. ![]() The physical and physiological assessment of athletes is often performed at various stages during a yearly cycle of training to establish the effectiveness of individual blocks of training or the overall success of the annual training plan. This article synthesizes the relevant assessment methods and provides a rationale for understanding usable biological maturation assessment tools that can aid in the development of training program design for youth. ![]() Although there are several methods available to assess biological maturation, practitioners who work with youth can benefit from assessment methods that are available and feasible, and that provide utility in the quantification of the degree and stages of biological maturation that affect motor performance in children and adolescents. Practitioners who work with school-age youth should be aware of the age-related changes that typically take place during a child's development to ensure that their strength and conditioning programming is as safe and effective as possible for enhancing performance and reducing injury risk. Mismatched rapid growth in the long bones relative to muscular lengthening may disrupt structure, neuromuscular function, and physical performance. J Strength Cond Res 28(5): 1454–1464, 2014-Biological maturation is associated with significant change to a number of physiological and structural processes throughout childhood and, in particular, adolescence. biological maturation: Implications for exercise programming in youth. Lloyd, RS, Oliver, JL, Faigenbaum, AD, Myer, GD, and De Ste Croix, MBA. ![]()
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