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Growth and Skeletal Maturation in Male and Female Artistic Gymnasts

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (N.A.G.), Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, and Department of Medicine (A.T., A.G.V., K.B.M.), Division of Endocrinology, University of Patras Medical School, University Hospital, Patras, 26500 Greece; International Gymnastic Federation (M.L., K.B.M.), CH 2740 Moutier, Switzerland; International Olympic Committee (M.L.), 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland; and International Federation of Gymnastics Medical Committee (M.L., K.B.M.), Lausanne, Switzerland

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Apostolos G. Vagenakis, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Patras Medical School, University Hospital, Rio-26500, Greece. E-mail: Vag.inmd{at}med.upatras.gr.

We studied 262 athletes who were 13–23 yr old. There were 93 male and 169 female artistic gymnasts (AG). This study is unique in character, because all variables were measured on the field of competition (24th European Championship).

Male AG had a higher height SD score than female (P < 0.001), with a higher reported target height SD score (P < 0.001), a higher predicted final height (P = 0.007), a lower height – target height (P < 0.001), a less delayed bone age (P < 0.001), a greater body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001), a lower mean body fat (P < 0.001), and an older age of onset of training (P < 0.001).

In a subgroup of athletes who had reached final height, male AG had a higher weight SD score than female (t = 4.322, P < 0.001), with a higher reported target height SD score (t = 18.9, P < 0.001), but a greater final height – target height (t = 6.641, P < 0.001).

Height SD score was positively correlated to reported target height SD score (P = 0.009 and P = 0.006, respectively) and to weight SD (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) for both male and female AG, as well as to BMI for female AG (P < 0.001), and negatively to age – bone age (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively) and to predicted height SD score (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Using multiple regression analysis, height SD score was positively correlated to predicted height SD score for both male (P < 0.001) and female (P = 0.005) AG, as well as to weight SD score (P < 0.001) for female AG and negatively to BMI (P < 0.001) for female AG and to age – bone age (P < 0.001) for male AG.

In conclusion, a deterioration of growth in AG was observed. For both sexes, genetic predisposition to final height, although altered, was not disrupted.