title: Short-term peak power changes in adolescents of similar anthropometric characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to examine changes of cycling peak power (P(max)), optimal pedaling frequency (Vopt), and optimal pedaling force (Fopt) with age in subjects with the same lean leg volume (LLV), leg length (LL), and percentage body fat (%BF).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 132 males aged 9.5-16.5 volunteered for this study. The population was divided into prepubertal (G1), pubertal (G2), and postpubertal (G3) groups. Within G1, G2, and G3, although the subjects were divided into three different age subgroups, there were no significant differences for LLV, %BF, and LL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that within G1, G2, and G3, P(max) increased significantly with age. Optimal velocity (Vopt) increased significantly with age in G1, whereas optimal force (Fopt) increased significantly with age into the other groups (G2 and G3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that when anthropometric characteristics were controlled (LLV, LL, and %BF), P(max) and its two components (Vopt and Fopt) still increased with age. This indicates that other factors of qualitative nature have to be considered when determining P(max), Vopt, and Fopt.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Gabriel Montpied Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Ronan J F
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doré
authors.forename: Christophe A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hautier
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Praagh
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bedu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*