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The handgrip strength is used as a means of individual's health prediction during life. It is used as an indicator of the nutrition status, bone fragility, presence of sarcopenia and it correlates with certain diseases and clinical complications. The research goal was to analyze the results of the hand dynamometry test, based on the chronological and biological age, and to offer normative and referent standards about children and adolescents from the Republic of North Macedonia. The study was conducted on a sample of 4031 respondents of both sexes at the age 6-14 years. In order to achieve the research goals, the measured characteristics were of the weight, height, sitting height and handgrip strength. The body mass index and biological maturity values (APHV) were obtained by using formulas. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that statistically significant differences in handgrip strength are established between the boys and girls of all age categories. Also, statistically significant differences between boys and girls are established in the hand dynamometry test of all APHV levels. In general, the use of the APHV allows a better categorization of the performance of the studied children and adolescents. With boys, the correlation between the chronological age and test was 68 %, and with girls - 77 %. The normative referent standards of the hand dynamometry test are presented in percentiles for both sexes. Thye hand dynamometry test's results during childhood and adolescence should be analyzed and interpret on the basis of biological age, and not on the chronological age. These tools can help specialists who work with children and adolescents in ethnic and epidemiological context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fast and effective methods for estimating the skeletal maturity for pediatric patients, is fundamental for the opportune application of orthopedic/orthodontic treatments. In pediatric dentistry, the panoramic radiography as a routine diagnostic method, can be used to estimate the stage of maturation in these patients, through the calculation of dental age. The aim of the present study is to determine the correlation between the chronological and dental ages, with the cervical vertebrae stages of skeletal maturity, through the non-parametric Spearman statistical method. An observational, transversal, and analytical design was employed. The sample consisted of 516 records from patients between 5 and 15 years of age, systemically healthy, with panoramic and lateral skull radiographs taken on the same date. The chronological age of each patient was determined according to the clinical history. Dental age of each patient was calculated with the Demirjian approach, and the stage of maturation of cervical vertebrae was determined by means of the Lamparski method. The results showed a correlation of 72 % between chronological age and bone maturation, a correlation of 66 % between dental age and bone maturation, and a correlation of 86 % between chronological and dental age. It is concluded that both chronological and dental age exhibit a high correlation with the correspondent stage of vertebral maturity. Thus, dental and chronological age are appropriate indicators to estimate, with high precision the stage of skeletal maturation in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to detect biological maturity and certain athletic skills in boys aged 14 participating in competitive basketball, and to compare certain athletic skills of participants according to their biological maturity status. The participants were most talented Serbian basketball players (n= 49) who were divided into three groups according to their maturity status: early (n= 14), average (n= 24) and late maturing (n= 11). Biological maturity status of participants was assessed by technique developed by Mirwald et al. (2002). Nine tests of basic athletic skills: vertical jump, medicine ball throwing, run at 20, 30 and 50 m, agility t-test, zigzag agility drill, agility run 4x15 m, the line drill, as well as four basketball skills field tests (speed spot shooting, passing, control dribble and defensive movement) were applied. The results of this study showed that the three groups of subjects differed in applied variables (p <0.05). Average maturers achieved the best results in almost all variables, while late maturers achieved the worst results. Early maturers achieved the best results only in one variable - medicine ball throwing. Only harmonized chronological and biological age, i.e. chronological and biological growth and development, enable the best demonstration of motor abilities based on morphological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]