Author(s): JUSTAMENTE, I., FELDMANE, L., ZOLOVS, M., REIHMANE, D., Institution: RIGAS STRADIŅŠ UNIVERSITY, Country: LATVIA, Abstract-ID: 1486

INTRODUCTION:
Biological maturation influences physical performance during adolescence, but its differential effects on aerobic and anaerobic performance in youth atheletes remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the associations of biological maturity (years from peak height velocity, PHV) with aerobic and anaerobic performance in youth athletes.
METHODS:
Eighty-two trained youth athletes (51 males, 31 females; age 15 [14–16] years) completed an incremental treadmill test to voluntary exhaustion for determination of VO₂peak. Lactate thresholds (LT1, LT2) were determined using the D-max method (Cheng et al., 1992) and expressed relative to maximal aerobic speed (vLT1/vVO₂peak; vLT2/vVO₂peak). A 30-s Wingate anaerobic test assessed peak and mean power (W·kg⁻¹) and fatigue index (%). Biological maturity was estimated as years from peak height velocity using anthropometric measures (Mirwald et al., 2002). Linear and quadratic regression models were used to examine whether associations between maturity and performance followed straight or curved patterns, respectively, controlling for age and sex. Exploratory analyses included testosterone and estradiol concentrations determined by E. Gulbis clinical laboratory. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
PHV offset was not associated with VO₂peak or relative lactate threshold (vLT2/vVO₂peak) (p > 0.05). In contrast, PHV significantly predicted both peak anaerobic power and mean power (p < 0.01), with higher values observed in more mature athletes. Including a quadratic PHV term improved the explanatory power of the peak anaerobic and mean power models (p < 0.05). Fatigue index showed no association with maturity. Testosterone was positively associated with anaerobic performance (p < 0.01), increasing explanatory power for peak anaerobic and mean power (R² from 0.50 to 0.58 and from 0.48 to 0.56, respectively), whereas estradiol was not a significant predictor.
CONCLUSION:
Biological maturity is associated to anaerobic but not aerobic performance in youth athletes. Anaerobic performance may be more sensitive to maturation and hormonal factors than aerobic capacity during adolescence.

FUNDING: This study is conducted as a part of National Research Programme “Sport” (IMR Sports LV; No. VPP-IZM-Sports-2023/1-0001)

Cheng, B., Kuipers, H., Snyder, A. C., Keizer, H. A., Jeukendrup, A., & Hesselink, M. (1992). A new approach for the determination of ventilatory and lactate thresholds. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 64(5), 424–429.

Mirwald, R. L., Baxter-Jones, A. D. G., Bailey, D. A., & Beunen, G. P. (2002). An assessment of maturity from anthropometric measurements. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 34(4), 689–694.