Groeipatrone by seuns tydens mid-adolessensie: ʼn longitudinale studie van antropometriese veranderinge

Abstract

This study analysed the growth profiles stature, mass, arm span, sitting height and sitting-height-ratio of boys during the growth spurt within the mid-adolescent phase. A convenience sample of 73 Grade 8-10 boys (13.58-15.57 years) participated. Measurements were repeated three times annually, four months apart and sitting height ratio was calculated (sitting height/stature X 100). Protocols of the International Standards for Anthropometric Assessment (ISAK) and the Canadian Sports for Life were applied. Repeated measures over time ANOVA with a Bonferonni post hoc correction was use to analyse the data. The most significant increases (p=0.000) in stature, mass, arm span and sitting height occurred between 13.58 and 14.58 years while sitting-height-ratio showed the greatest change (p=0.002) between 14.58 and 15.57 years. Stature, mass and arm span exhibited parallel development up to 15 years after which further development levelled off, while no levelling off occurred in mass increase. The boys in this study entered the growth spurt in height on average prior to 13.58 years, but significant anthropometrical, motor and physical changes still occurred during their first year of high school (Grade 8), where high individual variability in growth changes were still evident.

Key words: Anthropometric measures; Maturation; Boys; Mid-adolescence; Growth spurt; Longitudinal study.