Allometric modelling of peak oxygen uptake in male soccer players of 8–18 years of age. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valente-dos-Santos, João; Coelho-e-Silva, Manuel J.; Tavares, Óscar M.; Brito, João; Seabra, André; Rebelo, António; Sherar, Lauren B.; Elferink-Gemser, Marije T.; Malina, Robert M.
• Is Part Of: Annals of human biology. Volume 42:Number 2(2015:Mar./Apr.)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Human biology -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2014.932007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4460

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: Peak oxygen uptake (<italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub>) is routinely scaled as mL O<sub>2</sub> per kilogram body mass despite theoretical and statistical limitations of using ratios.</p> <p> <italic>Aim</italic>: To examine the contribution of maturity status and body size descriptors to age-associated inter-individual variability in <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub> and to present static allometric models to normalize <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub> in male youth soccer players.</p> <p> <italic>Subjects and methods</italic>: Total body and estimates of total and regional lean mass were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in a cross-sectional sample of Portuguese male soccer players. The sample was divided into three age groups for analysis: 8–12 years, 13–15 years and 16–18 years. <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub> was estimated using an incremental maximal exercise test on a motorized treadmill. Static allometric models were used to normalize <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub>.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The independent variables with the best statistical fit explained 72% in the younger group (lean body mass: <italic>k</italic> = 1.07), 52% in mid-adolescent players (lean body mass: <italic>k</italic> = 0.93) and 31% in the older group (body mass: <italic>k</italic> = 0.51) of variance in <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub>. The inclusion of the exponential term pubertal status marginally increased the explained variance in <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub> (adjusted <italic>R</italic><sup>2 </sup>= 36–75%) and provided statistical adjustments to the size descriptors coefficients.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: The allometric coefficients and exponents evidenced the varying inter-relationship among size descriptors and maturity status with aerobic fitness from early to late-adolescence. Lean body mass, lean lower limbs mass and body mass combined with pubertal status explain most of the inter-individual variability in <italic>V</italic>O<sub>2peak</sub> among youth soccer players.</p> </abstract>