Development of Aerobic Fitness during Childhood and Adolescence

Over 60 years ago, Robinson published the first investigation of boys’ aerobic fitness; almost 50 years ago, Åstrand conducted his pioneering studies of both sexes. Twenty four percent of the papers published during the first 10 years of Pediatric Exercise Science (1989-98) involved the determination of peak V̇O 2 . Yet, the interpretation of aerobic fitness during childhood and adolescence is still shrouded with controversy. In this paper we review peak V̇O 2 in relation to age, growth, maturation, and sex. We describe the increase in peak V̇O 2 with age, challenge the traditional interpretation of peak V̇O 2 during growth, demonstrate the independent contribution of maturation to peak V̇O 2 , and address the progressive divergence of boys’ and girls’ peak V̇O 2 , during childhood and adolescence.