Abstract
Background: Mechanisms that influence muscle strength can interfere with neuromotor performance and overall health, thus hormone markers and maturation can interact in this process. Objective: The present study aimed to verify the relationship of hormonal markers and biological maturation on neuromotor abilities in young people. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 44 female participants (11.5 ± 1.5 years). Hormones were analyzed biochemically. Skeletal and somatic maturation were analyzed using anthropometry. The muscular power of the upper and lower limbs, body speed with change of direction, and speed of the upper limbs were verified. Results: Bone age was correlated with hormonal markers (estradiol: r = 0.58; p = 0.0007), (testosterone: r = 0.51; p = 0.005). Peak growth velocity correlated with estradiol (r = 0.51; p = 0.004). The power of the lower limbs (estradiol: r = 0.52; p = 0.006; testosterone: r = 0.42; p = 0.03) and of the upper limbs (estradiol: r = 0.51; p = 0.007; testosterone: r = 0.42; p = 0.02) had a positive correlation with hormone levels and had similar results with maturation. The analysis by artificial neural networks indicated that the maturation can predict the neuromotor performance between 57.4% and 76%, while the hormonal markers showed a potential of more than 95% for the foreshadowing of the neuromotor performance of the upper limbs. Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that the hormones had a relationship with maturational development and bone age in female subjects.
Highlights
Biological maturation is a natural lifelong process that promotes morphophysiological changes in individuals [1]
Similar to the objective of the present study, Lowe et al, [37] addressed that hormonal markers in the group of estrogens including estradiol interact with strength levels in women throughout life, and Aslam et al, [8] recently reported that there is a relationship between hormone levels during puberty and neuromotor skills in subjects of both sexes
In this sense our data suggest that maturation is related to sex hormones, but in girls testosterone is not a major factor in peak growth velocity (Figure 1) and that both maturation and hormones are related to strength development in girls; they were not related to upper limb velocity and body velocity with change of direction (Tables 2 and 3)
Summary
Biological maturation is a natural lifelong process that promotes morphophysiological changes in individuals [1]. Biological maturation depends on genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors; the improvement of neurological, endocrine, bone and muscular systems that occur throughout life [1,2] During this process, puberty is a milestone due to the occurrence of faster maturity, mediated by the increase of estrogen group steroid hormones [3,4,5,6]. It is worth mentioning that among the estrogens produced by the female organism, this organism stands out for having an intense link with the reproductive function, and it is during the puberty phase that, among the functions in the organism, its production is accentuated This is in addition to providing stimulation of the release of eggs by the ovarian follicles and acting on the fallopian tubes (i.e., female organ) by stimulating muscle contractions in the endometrium, raising its levels in the female menstrual phase [3,4,5,7]. Mechanisms that influence muscle strength can interfere with neuromotor performance and overall health, hormone markers and maturation can interact in this process
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
