Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of age in relation to anthropometric
characteristics upon maximal anaerobic power of legs in sixty-nine young boys aged
11 to 19 years. Maximal anaerobic power (Wmax) was measured by the force-velocity
test. Lean body mass (LBM) was determined from all four skin-fold thickness measurements,
leg volume (LV) was estimated by anthropometric method, and anthropometric measurements
were used to determine total muscular mass (TMM). Wmax increased significantly (F
= 44.1, p < 0.001) between 11 and 19 years and was correlated with LV (r = 0.84) and
TMM (r = 0.88). It was most highly correlated with LBM (r = 0.94), which best explained
the percentage of the total variance of Wmax (88%). Normalized Wmax (Wmax/LBM) also
increased significantly between 11 and 19 years (F = 21.9, p < 0.001). In conclusion,
Wmax determined by the force-velocity test was closely related to anthropometric characteristics,
especially LBM, during the growth period. Furthermore, even when corrected for lean
body mass, maximal anaerobic power was always found to increase. This suggests that
other undetermined factors, in addition to the amount of lean tissue mass, may explain
the increase of Wmax during the force-velocity test.
Key words
Growth - force-velocity test - maximal anaerobic power - anthropometric characteristics
