Georgopoulos Neoklis A, Theodoropoulou Anastasia, Roupas Nikolaos D, Armeni Anastasia K, Koukkou Eftychia, Leglise Michel, Markou Kostas B
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2012;25(3-4):267-71. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2011-0486.
Elite male artistic gymnasts (AG) are exposed to high levels of physical and psychological stress during adolescence and experience a significant late maturation in both linear growth and pubertal development. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of intensive physical training on the adult final height in elite male AG.
This study is unique in character, as all variables were measured on the field of competition. The study was prospective and longitudinal; however, the current analysis of data is cross-sectional. Data from 86 elite male AG were obtained during the gymnastics competitions of European and World Championships. Clinical evaluation included height and weight measurements, as well as assessment of pubic hair and genital development according to Tanner's stages of pubertal development. The laboratory investigation included determination of skeletal maturation. All athletes completed a questionnaire that included questions on personal (onset and intensity of training, number of competitions per year) and family data (paternal and maternal heights).
Male AG were below the 50th percentile for both final height and weight. Elite male AG had final height standard deviation score (SDS) lower than their genetic predisposition. Final height SDS was correlated positively with target height SDS (r = 0.430, p < 0.001) and weight SDS (r = 0.477, p < 0.001) and negatively to the intensity of training (r = -0.252, p = 0.022). The main factors influencing final height, by multiple regression analysis were weight SDS (p < 0.001) and target height SDS (p = 0.003).
In elite maleAG, final height falls short of genetic predisposition, still well within normal limits. Considering medical and psychological risks in general, and based on the results of this research project, the International Federation of Gymnastics has increased the age limit for participants in international gymnastics competitions by 1 year.
优秀男性艺术体操运动员在青春期面临高水平的身体和心理压力，并且在身高线性增长和青春期发育方面明显成熟较晚。本研究的目的是确定强化体能训练对优秀男性艺术体操运动员成年最终身高的影响。
本研究具有独特性，因为所有变量均在比赛场地进行测量。该研究是前瞻性和纵向的；然而，当前的数据分析是横断面的。在欧洲和世界锦标赛的体操比赛期间获取了86名优秀男性艺术体操运动员的数据。临床评估包括身高和体重测量，以及根据坦纳青春期发育阶段对阴毛和生殖器发育进行评估。实验室检查包括骨骼成熟度的测定。所有运动员都完成了一份问卷，其中包括关于个人（训练开始时间和强度、每年比赛次数）和家庭数据（父母身高）的问题。
男性艺术体操运动员的最终身高和体重均低于第50百分位数。优秀男性艺术体操运动员的最终身高标准差得分（SDS）低于其遗传倾向。最终身高SDS与目标身高SDS呈正相关（r = 0.430，p < 0.001）和体重SDS呈正相关（r = 0.477，p < 0.001），与训练强度呈负相关（r = -0.252，p = 0.022）。通过多元回归分析，影响最终身高的主要因素是体重SDS（p < 0.001）和目标身高SDS（p = 0.003）。
在优秀男性艺术体操运动员中，最终身高未达到遗传倾向，但仍在正常范围内。考虑到一般的医学和心理风险，并基于本研究项目的结果，国际体操联合会已将国际体操比赛参与者的年龄限制提高了1岁。
