Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

What is Peak Height Velocity?

Peak Height Velocity (PHV) is the phase during the adolescent growth spurt when a child reaches their maximum rate of vertical growth. It is distinct from peak weight velocity, which refers to mass gain.

Contrary to common misconceptions, human growth is actually fastest during the first year of life rather than during adolescence. In the first year, infants typically grow roughly 25–26 cm. In contrast, the average adolescent growth spurt is significantly slower, with males averaging 8.3–10.3 cm/year and females averaging 7.8–9 cm/year.

Adolescent growth is also characterized by high individual variability. Normal growth rates during this spurt can range from 5.8 to 13.1 cm/year for males and 5.4 to 11.2 cm/year for females.

At what age does Peak Height Velocity occur?

According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, puberty and the onset of Peak Height Velocity (PHV) typically begin earlier in females—around age 11—than in males (around age 13). While males experience this growth spurt later, they generally achieve a greater magnitude of total height increase than their female counterparts.

What causes Peak Height Velocity?

As previously mentioned, the adolescent growth spurt coincides with puberty (5). Many of the body’s hormones influence growth, including growth hormone, thyroxine, insulin, corticosteroids (all of which influence growth rate), leptin (which alters body composition), and parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and calcitonin (all of which affect skeletal mineralisation). However, the key hormone in growth is growth hormone, which is mediated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SS)

As a result, the athletic performance improvements observed at the onset, during, and after the adolescent growth spurt are caused by maturity-related changes . These changes may include:

↑ androgen concentrations

↑ fibre-type differentiation

↑ resting adenosine triphosphate

↑ creatine phosphate levels

Architectural development of the muscle-tendon units

PHV Calculator

Estimate biological maturity using the Mirwald et al. (2002) maturity offset method. Calculates the time, in years, from Peak Height Velocity (the period of fastest growth).