Exploratory comparison of TW2, TW3, and FELS methods for assessing bone maturity in Cuban youth basketball and beach volleyball players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24215/18536387e116Keywords:
basketball, bone age, human development, skeletal maturation, volleyball beachAbstract
This study aimed to compare the Tanner-Whitehouse II (TW2) method with the more contemporary methods, Tanner-Whitehouse III (TW3) and FELS, to determine their relevance and accuracy in the current Cuban context, among school athletes playing basketball and beach volleyball. The sample included 44 young athletes (22 male and 22 female), aged 11 to 15 years, representative of a multi-ethnic population, predominantly of African ancestry and mestizo backgrounds. Each X-ray was evaluated three times, using each method, with the two closest values averaged to determine the final result. Additionally, anthropometric variables such as body mass and height were measured following the methodology of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Results showed a high level of agreement between TW2 and TW3, indicating that both methods are interchangeable despite modifications made to TW3 to account for secular growth trends and ethnic diversity. TW3 exhibited greater precision during intermediate stages, while FELS showed a tendency to overestimate skeletal maturity in athletes nearing final development, with greater variability in its estimates. Although the sample size limits the generalization of the findings, the results align with international studies, emphasizing the importance of validating these methods in local contexts. This study provides a basis for optimizing sports evaluation and selection strategies in Cuba.
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