Exercise, in healthy doses, maximizes an athlete's bone growth and aids in preventing osteoporosis. However, exercising at an elite level over a period of years may retard an athlete's growth and development. Elite-level gymnasts engaging in restrictive dieting while expending large quantities of energy possess the highest risk for stunted growth.
Puberty Delay
According to a 2008 study published in "Medicine and Science of Sports and Exercise," gymnasts were significantly shorter during adolescence compared to their counterparts in other sports. Additionally, female gymnasts obtained their menstrual cycle significantly later. However, this discrepancy in height may ameliorate once the individual stops gymnastics and enters adulthood. Female gymnasts experience a delay in growth during adolescence that may not impede upon their final adult height.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Delayed growth may be attributed to a reduced-calorie diet and nutritional deficiencies. Malnutrition is the primary factor responsible for retarded growth in the general population. An elite gymnast will often restrict calories for performance benefits. Couple this behavior with high energy expenditure and physical alterations occur in the glands and hormones. Among female gymnasts, limited body fat can significantly delay maturation and growth.
Stunted Growth
In a 2010 study published in the "Annals in the New York Academy of Sciences," a female rhythmic gymnast's full potential for growth was not reduced, only significantly delayed. However, female artistic gymnasts do not reach their full growth potential. Male artistic gymnasts experienced the greatest discrepancy between their final adult height and their genetic height potential. Stunted growth may result from a restrictive diet combined with extreme activity placing pressure on joints and bones.
Natural Selection
Natural selection may contribute to significant height differences among artistic gymnasts and their counterparts. Smaller individuals on average are more agile than larger individuals. In fact, a 2003 study in "Sports Biomechanics" found smaller gymnasts had significantly greater potential for performing elite gymnastics stunts than larger gymnasts. Thus, smaller gymnasts may experience more success and continue their training as a gymnast, whereas larger gymnasts may find success with other sports.
References
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Science"; The Influence of Intensive Physical Training on Growth and Pubertal Development in Athletes; N.A. Georgopoulos, et al.; September 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Growth and Pubertal Development in Children and Adolescents: Effects of Diet and Physical Activity; Alan Rogol, et al.; August 2000
- "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise"; Growth and Maturation of Adolescent Female Gymnasts, Swimmers and Tennis Players; M.C. Erlandson; Jan 2008
- "Sports Biomechanics"; Growth in Body Size Affects Rotational Performance in Women's Gymnastics; T. Ackland, et al.; July 2003
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