Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth velocity and final height in elite female rhythmic and artistic gymnasts

  • Research paper
  • Published:
Hormones Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of intensive training on adult final height in elite female rhythmic and artistic gymnasts.

METHODS

The study included 215 rhythmic gymnasts (RG) and 113 artistic gymnasts (AG).

RESULTS

AG were below the 50th percentile, while RG were taller than average. Final adult height was lower than target height in AG, while in RG, it exceeded target height. AG started training earlier than RG (p<0.001) and reported lower intensity of training (p<0.001). RG were taller than AG, with higher target height, greater final height-target height and lower body fat and BMI (p<0.001). Using multiple regression analysis, the main factors influencing final height were weight SDS (p<0.001), target height SDS (p<0.001) and age of menarche (p<0.001) for RG, and weight SDS (p<0.001) and target height SDS (p<0.001) for AG.

CONCLUSION

In both elite female RG and AG, genetic predisposition to final height was not disrupted and remained the main force of growth. Although in elite RG genetic predisposition for growth was fully preserved, in elite female AG final adult height falls shorter than genetically determined target height, though within the standard error of prediction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bass S, Bradney M, Pearce G, et al, 2000 Evidence for a reduction of growth potential in adolescent female gymnasts. J Pediatr 136: 149–155.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Beunen G, Malina RM, Baxter-Jones A, 2006 Blunted growth velocity in female artistic gymnasts. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38: 605 author reply 606.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Claessens AL, Veer FM, Stijnen V, et al, 1991 Anthropometric characteristics of outstanding male and female gymnasts. J Sports Sci 9: 53–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Theintz GE, Howald H, Allemann Y, Sizonenko PC, 1989 Growth and pubertal development of young female gymnasts and swimmers: a correlation with parental data. Int J Sports Med 10: 7–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Theintz GE, Howald H, Weiss U, Sizonenko PC, 1993 Evidence for a reduction of growth potential in adolescent female gymnasts. J Pediatr 122: 306–313.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Georgopoulos N, Markou K, Theodoropoulou A, et al, 1999 Growth and pubertal development in elite female rhythmic gymnasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84: 4525–4530.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Georgopoulos NA, Markou KB, Theodoropoulou A, et al, 2001 Height velocity and skeletal maturation in elite female rhythmic gymnasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86: 5159–5164.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Caldarone G, Leglise M, Giampietro M, Berlutti G, 1986 Anthropometric measurements, body composition, biological maturation and growth predictions in young female gymnasts of high agonistic level. J Sports Med 26: 263–273.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Claessens AL, Malina RM, Lefevre J, et al, 1992 Growth and menarcheal status of elite female gymnasts. Med Sci Sports Exercise 24: 755–763.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jost-Relyveld A, Sempe M, 1982 Analyse de la croissance et de la maturation squelettique de 80 jeunes gymnastes internationaux. Pediatrie 37: 247–262.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Smit PJ, 1973 Anthropometric observations on South African gymnasts. Afr Med J 47: 480–485.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Georgopoulos NA, Markou KB, Theodoropoulou A, Benardot D, Leglise M, Vagenakis AG, 2002 Growth retardation in artistic compared with rhythmic elite female gymnasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87: 3169–3173.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Georgopoulos NA, Theodoropoulou A, Leglise M, Vagenakis AG, Markou KB, 2004 Growth and skeletal maturation in male and female artistic gymnasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89: 4377–4382.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tanner JM 1962 Growth at adolescence. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications; p, 28–39.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lukaski HC, 1987 Methods for the assessment of human body composition: traditional and new. Am J Clin Nutr 46: 537–556.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Greulich WW, Pyle SI 1959 Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist. 2nd ed. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press; p, 63–123 for males and 126–183 for females.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pescovitz OH, Eugster EA 2004 Pediatric Endocrinology: Mechanisms, manifestations and management. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; p, 172, 173.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Brook C 2006 Clinical Pediatric Endocrinology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing; pp, 95–96.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Tanner JM, Goldstein H, Whitehouse RH, 1970 Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, and the stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child 51: 170–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Erlandson MC, Sherar LB, Mirwald RL, Maffulli N, Baxter-Jones AD, 2008 Growth and maturation of adolescent female gymnasts, swimmers, and tennis players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40: 34–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Duvallet A, Leglise M, Auberge T, Zenny JC, 1983 Etude radiologique des lésions osseuses du poignet du sportif. Cinesiologie 22: 157–162.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Maffulli N, Chan D, Aldridge MJ, 1992 Overuse injuries of the olecranon in young gymnasts. J Bone Joint Surg Br 74: 305–308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Caine D, Howe W, Ross W, Bergman G, 1997 Does repetitive physical loading inhibit radial growth in female gymnasts? Clin J Sport Med 7: 302–308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. DiFiori JP, Caine DJ, Malina RM, 2006 Wrist pain, distal radial physeal injury, and ulnar variance in the young gymnast. Am J Sports Med 34: 840–849.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bass S, Bradney M, Pearce G, et al, 2000 Short stature and delayed puberty in gymnasts: influence of selection bias on leg length and the duration of training on trunk length. J Pediatr 136: 149–155.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Claessens AL, Malina RM, Lefevre J, et al, 1992 Growth and menarcheal status of elite female gymnasts. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24: 755–763.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Roupas ND, Georgopoulos NA, 2011 Menstrual function in sports. Hormones (Athens) 10: 104–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Marcus R, Cann C, Madvij P, et al, 1985 Menstrual function and bone mass in elite women distance runners. Ann Intern Med 102: 158–163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Boersma B, Wit JM, 1997 Catch-up growth. Endocr Rev 18: 646–661.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Tanner JM 1986 Growth as a target-seeking function: catch up and catch down in man. In: Falkner F, Tanner JM, (eds) Human Growth: A Comprehensive Treatise, Vol 1: Developmental Biology and Prenatal Growth, New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation; pp, 167–179.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Malina RM, 1994 Physical activity and training: effects on stature and the adolescent growth spurt. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26: 759–766.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Claessens A, Lefevre J, Beunen G, Malina RM, 1999 The contribution of anthropometric characteristics to performance scores in elite female gymnasts. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 39: 355–360.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, University of Patras Medical School, University Hospital, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Neoklis A. Georgopoulos & Nikolaos D. Roupas

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Patras Medical School, Greece

    Anastasia Theodoropoulou, Loredana Rottstein, Athanasios Tsekouras, Panagiotis Mylonas, George A. Vagenakis, Anastasia K. Armeni, Apostolos G. Vagenakis & Kostas B. Markou

  3. Department of Endocrinology, “Elena Venizelou” Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Eftychia Koukkou

  4. Medical Physics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    George Sakellaropoulos

  5. International Federation of Gymnastics Medical Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Neoklis A. Georgopoulos & Michel Leglise

Authors
  1. Neoklis A. Georgopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anastasia Theodoropoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nikolaos D. Roupas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Loredana Rottstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Athanasios Tsekouras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Panagiotis Mylonas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. George A. Vagenakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Eftychia Koukkou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Anastasia K. Armeni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. George Sakellaropoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Michel Leglise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Apostolos G. Vagenakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Kostas B. Markou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neoklis A. Georgopoulos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Georgopoulos, N.A., Theodoropoulou, A., Roupas, N.D. et al. Growth velocity and final height in elite female rhythmic and artistic gymnasts. Hormones 11, 61–69 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401538

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03401538

Key words

Search

Navigation