Effects of sport (football) on growth auxological, anthropometric and hormonal aspects

Abstract

There are very few data available on the relationship between sporting activities, endocrine levels and changes in anthropometric measurements during growth. In order to study these relationships, we have made measurements of growth, changes in physical conformation and the plasma levels of several hormones [cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), testosterone, growth hormone, somatomedin C, insulin, glycaemia and haemoglobin A1C] in 175 boys, aged 10-16 years, who have played football at a competitive level and in 224 boys, severing as controls, who have never performed sporting activities regularly. The football players were divided into prepubertal and pubertal subjects (10-11.99 years, 12-13.99 years and 14-16 years, chronological and bone age groups). Our results showed no significant differences in the growth indices between prepubertal athletes and controls, but the plasma level of DHEA-S was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in the athletes. Pubertal football players, however, were significantly taller than the control subjects, particularly at 14-16 years chronological age. There were no such significant differences when bone age was considered. The pubertal football players were also more advanced in all biological indices of maturity, i.e. pubic hair, testicular volume and bone age. The increase in DHEA-S in pubertal football players, already seen in prepubertals, was also combined with a significant increase in testosterone, growth hormone and cortisol levels. Thus, in football players the DHEA-S level is already higher during prepuberty. This increase thus precedes all other indices of growth and maturation associated with puberty. We hypothesize that, while not excluding the possible influence of selection, as ours is a cross-sectional study, adrenal hyperactivity may be mainly responsible for the earlier onset of pubertal growth and maturity in exercising males.

The Bias toward Biological Maturation through the Talent Selection in Japanese Elite Youth Soccer Players

“…On the other hand, the early maturation in soccer players during puberty which recognized in European players (Cacciari et al, 1990;Malina et al, 2000) was also recognized in Japanese youth soccer players with J-SA. Especially between U12 and U13 age category, the cross-sectional diŠerence was remarkably in J-SA (1.7 years) and TW3 (2.6 years) comparing to those of annual increment value (1.1 years and 1.5 years, respectively).…”

“…However, when selecting the youth players, their subjective assessment biased toward the early biological maturation such as skeletal age, because it strongly correlates to a development of motor ability (Beunen et al, 1997a, b), and sometimes soccer skill . Thus, it has been reported that this bias result in the skewed distribution of maturation in same chronological age category; ie, Skeletal age (SA) of most player in post-puberty advances compared to chronological age (CA), conversely in pre-puberty SA tends to be lower than CA (Cacciari et al, 1990;Malina et al, 2000, Hirose, 2009.…”

Anthropometrical Characteristics and Somatotype of Young Macedonian Soccer Players

“…The highest reduction in skin folds from year to year is seen in the lower limb, which is probably a result of the training process and competitions. Cacciari et al (1990) have come to results that players in puberty of 12 and 14 y had smaller skin folds (triceps and sub-scapula) than inactive controlled group. These differences support the suggestions that physical training can lead to increased muscle and reduce body fat (Cacciari et al).…”

Effects of maturation on potential predictors of talent in soccer

“…This difference declines when adulthood is reached (Beunen et al, 1997;Cacciari et al, 1990;Hansen et al, 1999a). Williams and Reilly (2000b) suggested that the physical characteristics of players are related to performance.…”

“…Furthermore, a relationship was found between maturation, haemoglobin concentrations as well as with the development of aerobic power. Cacciari et al (1990) investigated the effects of soccer on anthropometrical and hormonal aspects of growth. The 399 Italian boys who participated in this cross-sectional study consisted of two groups.…”