Myanamr Health Research Registration 2024; 36(1-3): 29-37.
DOI:
Linear Growth Pattern of Adolescent Athletes under Training in Institutes of Sports and Physical Education: A Longitudinal Study
Khin Mi Mi Lay, Win Lai Lai Sint, Kyaw Kyaw, Hnin Sandar Oo, Sandar Win, Yi Yi Mon, Kyi Kyi Htwe& Zaw Min Thein
Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal, 2024; 36(1-3): 29-37
ABSTRACTAlthough linear growth pattern is an indicator of an adolescent’s health and nutrition, there is surprisingly very little information on adolescents’ growth velocity in Myanmar. This study aimed to find out the height velocity (HV) and height for age (HFA) of 10-16 years old adolescent students getting similar dietary supplies, physical training, and housing. A prospective cohort study was started at the Institutes of Sports and Physical Education (Mandalay and Taunggyi) during June-July, 2018. Anthropometric measurements were done using a calibrated portable weighing scale and stadiometer and self-assessment of pubertal stages was done. Measurements were repeated in all participating students by the same set of observers during June-July in the years 2019 and 2021. Annualized HV was calculated. Data were analyzed by SPSS version-20. Of 537 students, 49.5% were boys and 50.5%, girls. Mean HV in the girls was varied from 0.71±0.3 cm/year to 6.15±1.9 cm/year and that of the boys was from 1.42±0.85 cm/year to 7.02±2.25 cm/year, respectively. The adolescent height spurts in girls begin at 11.25 years and reach a peak HV (PHV) at 12.58 years. Boys exhibit the pubertal spurts later at 11.42 years and reach a PHV at 13.58 years. Mean height of the boys and girls for their respective ages were within ± 1 SD of WHO Standards. The findings of the present study highlighted that the adolescent athletes under training in Institutes of Sports and Physical Education, had growth potential to attain International Standards by giving healthy dietary pattern and regular physical training.
Linear growth is the documented attention to children’s growth in length and height First charting of a child’s linear growth every 6 months from birth to age 18 year began in the late 1700s.1 The growth process in adolescents is a complex process and impacts athletics and sports participation.2
Physical growth is of utmost important for the health of the nation. Many cross-sectional studies has been carried out on Myanmar children and young adults’ anthropometry since 1939.3 Most of theprevious studies found that the urban group possess a better built than the rural groups in both sexes.4 Both urban and rural boys and girls were found to have a lower growth curve including height and weight as compared to their counterparts in United States and United Kingdom.3, 4
A prospective cohort study was conducted by the same set of observers
at the Institutes of Sports and Physical Education (Mandalay and Taunggyi). In
June-July 2018, the study was started in 10 and 16 years old students (n=537)
including both boys and girls.
In 2019, the number of students in each Institute of Sports and Physical
Education (ISPE) was reduced and measurements were repeated in participating
students (n=377) during June-July. Since the schools were closed in 2020 due to
covid-19 pandemic, the last time measurements could be repeated in the
participating students during June-July in the year 2021 (n=98).
Mean
HV in the girls was varied from 0.71±0.3 cm/year to 6.15±1.9 cm/year and that
of the boys was from 1.42±0.85 cm/year to 7.02±2.25 cm/year, respectively (Fig. 1). Mean HV
in the boys was comparable not only to those of previous Myanmar longitudinal
study, conducted in affluent school children,9 but also to those of
USA and Korea studies (Fig. 2).14, 15 The adoles-cent height spurts in girls begin at 11.25 years
and reach a peak HV (PHV) at 12.58 years, which was
laterthan age at PHV (11 years) of the affluent school
girls of the previous Myanmar study as
well as that (10 years) of Korean girls. Boys exhibit the pubertal spurts later than girls at 11.42 years and reach a PHV
at 13.58 years, which was a little bit later than those (12 years) of both of
the affluent school boys of the previous Myanmar study and Korean studies.9,
15 Despite of the late age at PHV of the adolescents in the present study, attained heigh was comparable with WHO
standards and a little bit greater than that of Korean.15, 16
Competing interests
The author declared that they have no competing interest.
1. Cole TJ. The development of growth references and growth charts. Annals of Human Biology 2012; 39(5): 382-394.
2. Brown KA, Patel DR & Darmawan D. Participation in sports in relation to adoles-cent growth and development. Translational Pediatrics 2017; 6(3): 150-159. doi: 10.21037/ tp.2017.04.03
3. Maung Gale. Report on the dietary and nutritional surveys. Rangoon Government Printing and Stationery, Burma (Myanmar). [Cited in Myo Khin. Height and weight of Myanmar children and young adults. DMR Bulletin 1992; 6 (3): 1-22]