AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Longitudinal and comparative studies on physical activity and growth find no significant differences in height or somatic dimensions between active and inactive youths, refuting the claim that going to the gym stops height growth.
Physical activity and training: effects on stature and the adolescent growth spurt
## Abstract
Statural growth (size attained), age at peak height velocity (PHV), and growth rate were compared in two samples of boys classified as habitually physically active and inactive, and in two samples of boys regularly training in sport (primarily team sports). Individual growth records were fitted mathematically in three of the samples (two as reported by the respective authors and one for the present report), while curves were fit to group means for the fourth sample. There were no differences in size, age at PHV, and PHV between active and inactive boys, but the parameters of the adolescent spurt for boys regularly involved in sport were characteristic of early maturers. Longitudinal data are less extensive for girls. Stature data for three samples of young athletes in gymnastics, swimming, and track/rowing indicated a stable pattern relative to reference data for nonathletes, i.e., swimmers, track athletes, and rowers were already taller and gymnasts already shorter than average during childhood and maintained their position relative to reference data during childhood and adolescence. A
Physical activity and growth, maturation and performance: a longitudinal study
## Abstract
The effects of increased physical activity upon physical growth, maturation and performance were investigated in samples of 32 active and 32 nonactive Belgian boys followed longitudinally from 13 to 18 yr of age. Active boys participated in sports activities for more than 5 h.wk-1.yr-1 during each of the first 3 yr of the study, in addition to compulsory physical education. Nonactive boys participated in less than 1.5 h.wk-1.yr-1 during the first 3 yr of the study, but did participate in required school physical education. Anthropometric dimensions included lengths, breadths, circumferences, and skinfolds. A physical fitness test battery was administered at each observation including nine health- and performance-related tests. Skeletal maturation was assessed; sociocultural determinants and sports participation were obtained through written questionnaires verified by a control interview. No significant effects of increased physical activity were observed on growth in somatic dimensions, including skinfolds, age at peak height velocity, skeletal maturation, and most of the physical fitness c
Everything we examined (2) — 1 independent source
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.