Intraindividual allometric development of aerobic power in 8- to 16-year-old boys.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study are two-fold: first, to analyze intraindividual allometric development of aerobic power of 73 boys followed at annual intervals from 8 to 16 yr, and second, to relate scaled aerobic power with level of habitual physical activity and biological maturity status.


METHODS
Peak VO2 (treadmill), height, and body mass were measured. Biological maturity was based on age at peak height velocity (PHV) and level of physical activity was based on five assessments between 11 and 15 yr and at 17 yr. Interindividual and intraindividual allometric coefficients were calculated. Multilevel modeling was applied to verify if maturity status and activity explain a significant proportion of peak VO2 after controlling for other explanatory characteristics.


RESULTS
At most age levels, interindividual allometry coefficients for body mass exceed k = 0.750. Intraindividual coefficients of peak VO2 by body mass vary widely and range from k' = 0.555 to k' = 1.178. Late maturing boys have smaller k' coefficients than early maturing boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Peak VO2 is largely explained by body mass, but activity level and its interaction with maturity status contribute independently to peak VO2 even after adjusting for body mass.
Beunen
Gaston
G
Department of Sport and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. gaston.beunen@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
Baxter-Jones
Adam D G
AD
Mirwald
Robert L
RL
Thomis
Martine
M
Lefevre
Johan
J
Malina
Robert M
RM
Bailey
Donald A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption