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The influence of intensive physical training on growth and pubertal development in athletes
Author(s) -
Georgopoulos Neoklis A.,
Roupas Nikolaos D.,
Theodoropoulou Anastasia,
Tsekouras Athanasios,
Vagenakis Apostolos G.,
Markou Kostas B.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05677.x
Subject(s) - menarche , athletes , physical development , endocrinology , bone age , affect (linguistics) , medicine , endocrine system , bone growth , physiology , psychology , developmental psychology , physical therapy , hormone , communication
Genetic potential for growth can be fully expressed only under favorable environmental conditions. Although moderate physical activity has beneficial effects on growth, excessive physical training may negatively affect it. Sports favoring restricted energy availability, in the presence of high energy expenditure, are of particular concern. In gymnastics, a different pattern in skeletal maturation and linear growth was observed, resulting in an attenuation of growth potential in artistic gymnasts (AG), more pronounced in males than in females. In female rhythmic gymnasts (RG), the genetic predisposition to growth was preserved owing to a late catchup growth phenomenon. In all other sports not requiring strict dietary restrictions, no deterioration of growth has been documented so far. Intensive physical training and negative energy balance alter the hypothalamic pituitary set point at puberty, prolong the prepubertal stage, and delay pubertal development and menarche in a variety of sports. In elite RG and AG, prepubertal stage is prolonged and pubertal development is entirely shifted to a later age, following the bone maturation rather than the chronological age.

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