Original articles  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2006 December;46(4):540-7

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Heritability of neuromuscular performance and anaerobic power in preadolescent and adolescent girls

Maridaki M.

Department of Sports Medicine and Biology of Physical Activity Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Aim. This study examined the effect of the level of maturation on the heritability indices for various neuromuscular, anaerobic and anthropometric parameters in females.
Methods. Sixty healthy female twins, 30 preadolescent (PA) aged 12.3±0.3 years and 30 adolescent (A) aged 16.7±0.2 years, with similar environmental backgrounds took part in the study. The magnitude of the genetic component was studied using a heritability index (HI) determined by the twin model. Chronological and skeletal age, biological maturation and age at menarche were used as criteria for the formation of the 2 groups. Zygosity was determined on the basis of morphological and dermatoglyphic similarity and by the identity in red blood cell antigens.
Results. Almost all variables differed between PA and A group (P<0.05-0.01), with the exception of peak and mean power output expressed per unit fat free mass and fatigue index during the Wingate test. Most anthropometric characteristics had a high HI (0.8-0.99) in both groups. However, HI for peak blood lactate was higher in the A compared with the PA twins (0.98 vs 0.73). Furthermore HI for peak isokinetic torque at all angular velocities tested was also higher and significant (0.54 to 0.9) only for the A compared to the PA group.
Conclusions. The level of maturation affected the HI of some but not all neuromuscular and anaerobic performance variables. The higher HI for peak blood lactate and isokinetic torque in A compared with PA females may be explained by differences in the maturation of anaerobic metabolism and neuromuscular activation. Most HI for neuromuscular, anaerobic and anthropometric parameters were high, implying a strong genetic influence in these variables.