Relation of Maturity, Structural, and Strength Measures to the Somatotypes of Boys 9 Through 15 Years of Age

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to relate the somatotypes of boys to their skeletal maturity, structural characteristics, and muscular strength. Five somatotype categories were formed: endomorphs, mesomorphs, endomesomorphs, ectomorphs, and mid-types. The subjects were 259 boys, 37 boys at each age 9 to 15 years inclusive. In general, the endomorphs and endomesomorphs were largest in such body measures as body weight, chest girth, upper arm girth, calf girth, and hip width. The mesomorphs showed general superiority in both gross and relative muscular strength and muscular endurance measures. The ectomorphs and mid-types followed somewhat the same pattern, although some differences between these two categories did exist. The only tests where no difference between means was found were sitting height, leg length, Classification Index I, and lung capacity. A significantly greater percentage of endomesomorphs were advanced than were retarded; the reverse was true for the mid-type boys.