Growth and physical training with reference to heredity

Abstract

Identical male twins (four sets aged 10 yr, four sets aged 13 yr, and four sets aged 16 yr) were divided so that one twin underwent strenuos endurance training for 10 wk, while his brother served as a control without training. Intrapair comparisons of the training-period changes in aerobic, anaerobic, and cardiorespiratory responses to maximum work on a bicycle ergometer disclosed that 1) 10-yr-old trained twins improved more than untrained twins did in VO2max,2) 16-yr-old trained twins increased their VO2max, O2 pulse, blood lactate, ventilation, and respiratory rate and decreased their maximal heart rates more than their untrained counterparts did, and 3) the trained and the untrained 13-yr-old twins changed commensurately. Further, interage comparisons of the intrapair differences showed that both the 10- and 16-yr olds improved their VO2max more than did the 13-yr olds. In view of this evidence, the old hypothesis that more may be gained by introducing extra exercise at the time when the rate of growth is greatest is not tenable.