US EPA

6961825 

Journal Article 

Age periods of accelerated improvement of muscle strength, power, speed and endurance in the age interval 6-18 years 

Viru, A; Loko, J; Volver, A; Laaneots, L; Karelson, K; Viru, M; , 

1998 

Yes 

Biology of Sport
ISSN: 0860-021X 

INST SPORT 

WARSAW 45 

211-227 

WOS:000077804600003 

Periodical alterations in the rate of improvement of motor abilities are typical for motor development in childhood and adolescence. A great body of data from many countries were analysed here from this point of view. In each set of data, periods of increased annual rate of development of various motor abilities were detected. The percent of studies which indicated an increased rate of improvement of motor abilities at a certain age, called Consensus Index (CI), was used in the presented meta-analysis. The CI values indicated two periods of increased rates of motor development. The peak improvement rates for sprint speed in boys occured at the age of 7- 8 and 14 - 15 years, in girls - at 8 - 9 and 12 - 13 years. Those periods for explosive strength were 7 - 9 and 13 - 16 years in boys, and 6 - 8 and 11 - 12 years in girls. A significant improvement in muscle strength was found in one period only, namely at 14 - 16 years in boys and at 12 - 13-years in girls. A probability for an accelerated improvement in aerobic endurance was found for the periods of 11 - 15 years in boys and Il - 13 years in girls (CI values were highest in 12 - 13 year old boys and in 11 - 12 year old girls). For both latter traits, the accelerated improvement was associated with the last stages of sexual maturation.