Growth Spurts Make Teenage Boys More Clumsy And Awkward, Study Reveals

It is a known fact that teenage boys are really as gangly as they look. Scientists have found that sudden growth spurts in adolescent boys make them clumsy and uncoordinated because their brains doesn't have enough time to adjust to their rapid increase in height.

"Following a growth spurt, the body needs time to adjust to changes to the periphery, during which time a teenager may walk awkwardly, while teenagers who grow steadily are able to handle growth modifications better," said lead author Dr. Maria Cristina of the University of Bologna in Italy.

Discovery News has reported that the study enlisted 88 15-year-old boys and made them walk along a 10-meter (33 foot) corridor at their own pace while wearing wireless sensors that allowed the researchers to examine different aspects of the adolescents' gait, including smoothness of stride and balance. This provided the team baseline for comparison of each teen's motor control. The researchers also recorded the teens' height and weight.

They also found out that there were 19 boys who had showed growth spurts who were categorized into a 'Grown' group. Another 19 of their peers who had a similar body mass index but who had grown by 1cm or less over the same period were placed into a 'Not Grown' group.

They were then asked to count backwards aloud in eights from a random starting number while walking. This mental arithmetic test was designed to see the extent to which controlling their gait put a demand on their brain. Those who were part of the "Not Grown" group walked more smoothly and their stride was more regular and stable compared to that of the "Grown" group who undergone the same math test and normal conditions, although the walking ability of both groups was affected while they were doing the math test.

Researchers found that quick changes in growth can change a person's motor control over their body. Motor control is the automated process by which the brain co-ordinates the muscles and limbs. The reason for this is because the brain needs time to adapt or adjust to the new body size.

But according to the Daily Mail, researchers did not find any changes in the stability level of those boys who had growth spurts, meaning that the body was able to keep the balance even if there were changes in the walking style.

Dr. Cristina said: 'A sudden increase in height affects the body's ability to control established motor skills, such as walking. 'Adolescents tend to show previous control of the body when growing up, but the motor control behavior is organized on the body's dimensions. 'Following a growth spurt, the body needs time to adjust to changes to the periphery, during which time a teenager may walk awkwardly, while teenagers who grow steadily are able to handle growth modifications better and so maintain smoothness and regularity when walking.'

The researchers said other biological, cognitive and socio-emotional changes which teenage boys undergo during the 'very peculiar period of transition from childhood to adulthood' could affect how they walk. These were not accounted for by the study.

They also acknowledged the tests were carried out on a small sample and larger studies would be needed to confirm the results.