Dependence of muscle strength on biological maturation rates and key variables of physical development in teenage boys

Functional abilities of school-age children are affected by a variety of factors, including endogenous. Over the course of a few years, we studied physical development of 182 boys who underwent annual physical examination from the age of 11 to 17. We took basic anthropometric measurements, such as height and weight, tested hand muscle strength and assessed biological maturation and body build. Our study showed that muscle strength in school-age boys suffers a negative influence of such endogenous factors as delayed physical development, body mass deficit, short stature, and asthenic build. Excess weight and low skeletal weight also contribute to decreased muscle strength in teenage boys. Our results can be used to identify teenagers at risk who should be given special attention during PE classes at school or during training sessions before the GTO fitness test.