Growth and maturation for aerobic fitness

Question 1

Define growth

Answer 1

Increase in body size, or size of specific body parts

Question 2

Define maturation

Answer 2

Process of becoming mature

Progressive acheievement of adult status in terms of morphology, function , complexity

Question 3

Define development

Answer 3

Attainment of functional biological and behavioural competences

Question 4

Define chronological age

Answer 4

Age from date of birth

Question 5

Define Biological age=

Answer 5

The developmental stage of the body systems (chronological and biological age don’t match)

Question 6

What is the difference between growth and maturation?

Answer 6

Adult size and dimensions vary

All children eventually reach the same maturity

Question 7

How is growth controlled?

Answer 7

Genetic component
Hormones
Nutrition
Environmental

Question 8

What are the three main ways of assessing maturation?

Answer 8

Skeletal maturation (x ray scans)
Sexual maturation
Somatic maturation

Question 9

What is the APHV way of assessing maturation

Answer 9

Age at peak height velocity
Somatic indicator
Rapid acceleration in the rate of height increase (velocity)
Height velocity nadir as puberty approaches with peak height velocity occurring mid puberty

Question 10

Define v02

Answer 10

The rate at which oxygen is consumed by working tissues

Question 11

Define v02 max

Answer 11

The maximum rate at which we can consume and use oxygen by working tissues (reflects how well the respiratory, cardiovascular and muscular systems can work together

Question 12

What is absolute v02 max?

Answer 12

Measured in l.min
No accounting of body ass
Usually for non weight bearing activities
Heavier person ahs a higher absolute v02 max but doesn’t men they’re fitter

Question 13

What is relative v02 max?

Answer 13

Measured in ml/kg.min
Relative to body mass
Usually for weight bearing activities such as running
Body mass explains about 70% of the difference in absolute v02 max

Question 14

What is v02 peak?

Answer 14

Highest oxygen consumption
Can’t refer to v02 max in young people
Represents their maximum effort but we tend not to see a plateau unlike v02 max

Question 15

How is v02 max calculated?

Answer 15

The Fick equation
=Q x a-v02diff

=(HR x SV) x (arterial 02- venous 02

Question 16

Explain the 2 different views on the influence of v02 peak on growth and maturation

Answer 16

For years, research suggested:
Males- as they get into adolescence they’re v02 will increase then it will stabilise
Females- Increase to adolescence then decreases

Alternative analysis:
Males- Progressive increase across puberty
Females- increase into puberty then stable
We’ve now realised that if we divide v02 by body mass, it doesn’t properly account for body mass differences at different ages
Not getting rid of the effect of body mass
This is because body mass and v02 increase at different rates as we get older (body mass will increase faster)

Summary: Contrary to earlier belief, it appears that body mass relative v02 peak increases into adulthood in males and at least to mid adolescence in females