Age and Maturity Effects on Morphological and Physical Performance Measures of Adolescent Judo Athletes

Bruno Barbosa Giudicelli; Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz; Douglas Henrique Bezerra Santos; Hugo Sarmento; Alain Guy Marie Massart; Arnaldo Tenório da Cunha Júnior; Adam Field; António José Barata Figueiredo

doi:10.2478/hukin-2021-0090

Age and Maturity Effects on Morphological and Physical Performance Measures of Adolescent Judo Athletes

J Hum Kinet. 2021 Oct 31:80:139-151. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2021-0090. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Authors

Bruno Barbosa Giudicelli^{1

2}, Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz^{1

2}, Douglas Henrique Bezerra Santos¹, Hugo Sarmento², Alain Guy Marie Massart², Arnaldo Tenório da Cunha Júnior¹, Adam Field³, António José Barata Figueiredo²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Cineanthropometry, Physical Activity and Health Promotion (LACAPS), Federal University of Alagoas, Arapiraca, Brazil.
² CIDAF (uid/dtp/04213/2019), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
³ Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.

Abstract

Studies assessing age and maturation effects on morphological and physical performance measures of young judokas are scarce. This study aimed to assess the independent and combined effects of chronological age and biological maturation on anthropometry and physical performance of 67 judokas aged 11-14. Participants' anthropometric profiles were assessed, and physical performance tests were completed. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed an independent effect of age (anthropometry: F = 1.871; p < 0.05; Pillai's trace = 0.545; η² _p = 0.272; physical performance: F = 2.876; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.509; η² _p = 0.254) and maturity (anthropometry: F = 10.085; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.669; η² _p = 0.669; physical performance: F = 11.700; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.581; η² _p = 0.581). There was no significant combined effect of age and maturity. The maturation effect remained significant when controlled for age (anthropometry: F = 4.097; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.481; η² _p = 0.481; physical performance: F = 3.859; p < 0.01; Pillai's trace = 0.0.318; η² _p = 0.318). Inadolescent judokas, the maturation effect on growth and physical performance seems to be more relevant than the age effect, leading to the need to control this effect in training routines and competitive events. As in studies with youth soccer players and other youth athletes, bio-banding can be a strategy for controlling maturation in combat sports.

Keywords: aerobic performance; agility; anaerobic performance; anthropometry; biological maturation; muscle strength.

© 2021 Bruno Barbosa Giudicelli, Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz, Douglas Henrique Bezerra Santos, Hugo Sarmento, Alain Guy Marie Massart, Arnaldo Tenório da Cunha Júnior, Adam Field, António José Barata Figueiredo, published by Sciendo.