Abstract
This study aimed to identify the interactional relationships between maturation (biological age (BA)) and lean mass on strength development in young athletes from different sports. Using a cross-sectional study design, a sample of 64 young athletes (rowers, swimmers, jiu-jitsu, volleyball, soccer and tennis players) of both sexes (13.6 ± 1.17 years) were recruited. Body composition was assessed using dual energy bone densitometry with X-ray source (DEXA). Strength of upper limbs (ULS), force hand grip (HG), vertical jump (VJ) and jump against movement (CMJ) were recorded. BA was estimated from anthropometrics. BA relationships were identified with upper limb strength in all athletes, and with the lower limb strength of tennis players, only (p < 0.05). An interaction effect between lean mass and BA was found (η2p = 0.753), as was a local effect within the regression models (ƒ2 ≥ 0.33). Athletes with a higher concentration of lean mass had superior upper and lower limb strength (p < 0.05). Lean mass showed a local effect (ƒ2) greater than that associated with BA. Although maturation is related to strength development, the strength of the relationship is mitigated by the accrual of lean mass. Specifically, the local effect of lean mass on muscle strength is broader than that of maturation, especially for lower limb strength.
Highlights
Numerous factors determine success in high-performance sport, including psychological conditions, motor skills and body composition [1]
Our results showed: (i) a significant relationship between maturation and the performance of lower limbs of tennis players and upper limbs of rowers, tennis players, jiu-jitsu participants, volleyball players, swimmers and soccer players; (ii) when controlling for lean mass, a relationship between maturation and performance in the upper limbs of jiu-jitsu participants, swimmers, tennis and volleyball players was found; (iii) a relationship between lean mass and maturation, and performance of upper limbs in rowers, tennis players, jiu-jitsu participants, volleyball players, swimmers and soccer players; (iv) maturation significantly interacted with lean mass; (v) lean mass and maturation showed independent effects, in relation to the performance of upper and lower limbs; and (vi) athletes with higher concentrations of lean mass showed superior performance in the upper and lower limbs
These researchers reported that lean mass showed significant relationships with specific performance and that athletes with superior lean mass were able to lift loads with higher weight compared to the others (p ≤ 0.001)
Summary
Numerous factors determine success in high-performance sport, including psychological conditions, motor skills and body composition [1]. Previous reports have shown that selected young athletes, within chronological age (CA) bands, are stronger than those deselected [4,5]. Those selected have been observed to be more advanced in their maturation (indexed by biological age (BA), i.e., more mature their CA matched peers) [5]. Within individual’s maturation stages can be classified as late, synchronized (average) or accelerated (early) in relation to chronological age [6]. Researchers have observed interaction effects between CA and BA in a variety of performance tasks such as: acceleration time, sprint speed, speed with change of direction and jumping height [7]. Charcharis et al [8] demonstrated that when strength was normalized to body weight, there were still differences between average and early maturers and late maturers in strength outcomes
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