Comparison of male and female students’ physical characteristics, using the peak height velocity indicator to provide training guidelines

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this study is to collect data on the physical characteristics of males and females of different age groups attending the National Sports School, with the purpose of relating the findings with physiological evidence obtained from already established Long-Term Athletic Development models. More specifically, the main findings are linked with the Youth Physical Development (YPD) model, to ultimately provide recommendations for individualized training guidelines. Method: An observational, cross sectional study with a descriptive design was chosen for the purpose of data collection. The sample was based on the students in the National Sports School in Pembroke, comprising 227 participants that represent part of the Maltese athletic population. Data collection lasted one week, where anthropometric data was collected, specifically, height, sitting height, weight and leg length. A gender-specific Multiple Linear Regression equation was used to calculate the maturity offset value and to predict the age of Peak Height Velocity (PHV). Thereafter, a thorough statistical and descriptive analysis of the data was carried out using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS. Results: The study provides evidence that females in the sample mature significantly earlier than males, although males experience a significantly greater magnitude in the growth spurt. Moreover, the statistical significance of the maturity offset across genders and different age groups (p-value 0.000) highlighted the need to individualize training guidelines. Conclusion: The results enabled an association of maturity status with reference to the YPD, indicating the optimal level of emphasis to be placed on each training component. An in-depth understanding of maturation, together with its interaction with pediatric exercise science is pivotal from a physiotherapy perspective. This allows for the development and prescription of training guidelines to enhance performance and decrease the likelihood of injury in adolescent athletes.