Introduction
Peak Height Velocity (PHV) refers to the period during adolescence when a young person experiences their fastest rate of growth in height.
Rapid growth affects movement control, tissue tolerance coordination, and therefore injury risk.
Understanding PHV allows clinicians and coaches to individualise load management, reduce injury risk, and optimise long-term athletic development.
Females appear to experience PHV earlier than males, however, males appear to grow more during this period.
What is PHV?
PHV is the stage in adolescence where height increases at its fastest rate.
This typically occurs around 11–13 years in girls and 13–15 years in boys.
It’s important to note that PHV reflects biological maturity rather than chronological age, meaning two athletes of the same age can be at very different stages of growth and development.
From a musculoskeletal perspective, PHV is a period of rapid bone growth, often outpacing the ability of muscles and tendons to adapt.
Why is it Important?
Growth spurts during adolescence, particularly periods of rapid growth, represent a consistent high-risk window for injury, especially in sport. Across multiple sports, both injury incidence and overall burden tend to increase around PHV:
Faster growth rates (>7 cm/year) are associated with a higher risk of growth-related injuries
Injury patterns also shift with maturation — pre-PHV is more commonly associated with distal overuse injuries (e.g. Sever’s disease), while during and post-PHV injuries tend to be more proximal (e.g. Osgood-Schlatter disease, pars interarticularis bone stress injury)
Pre-PHV (Offset < -1.0)
The athlete is still in the growth phase, building toward their growth spurt.
Training Focus:
Develop fundamentals & movement quality with an emphasis on balance, coordination, and agility
Encourage skill variety through exposure to different movement patterns and event types
Introduce light strength work using bodyweight and technique-focused exercises
Avoid rapid increases in load or excessive training, as growth plates remain vulnerable
'Growth Spurt' Period (Offset between -1.0 and +1.0)
The athlete is in, or very close to, their peak growth phase.
Training Focus:
Emphasise movement control, particularly during change, with a strong focus on neuromuscular training as body proportions shift
Prioritise mobility, posture, and core stability
Monitor load tolerance closely, with regular check-ins and weekly adjustments to training volume
Expect temporary reductions in coordination or technique
Post-PHV (Offset > +1.0)
The athlete has passed their peak growth phase and is beginning to stabilise.
Training Focus:
Progress into more structured strength and power training
Introduce higher-intensity, event-specific work
Continue to refine technique as body control improves
Training load and recovery can begin to align more closely with senior-level athletes
How to Measure
PHV is calculated using a predictive model, including:
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Date of Birth
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Weight
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Gender
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Standing height (cm)
- Seated height (cm)
This data is used to calculate an individual’s maturity offset, which estimates how close an adolescent is to reaching PHV.
For example, a score of -1 indicates the athlete is approximately one year prior to their PHV. It’s recommended to regularly monitor height and recalculate maturity offset every 3–4 months to track growth trends and better estimate predicted adult height.
For best practice, and to determine individual training focus and injury risk reduction strategies, assessment by a sports physiotherapist is recommended. A holistic approach, including support from other Allied Health professionals such as a sports dietitian, can further optimise outcomes.
Calculate your Child
You can calculate your child’s PHV using this free calculator.
References
- Bult, H. J., Barendrecht, M., & Tak, I. J. R. (2018). Injury risk and injury burden are related to age group and peak height velocity among talented male youth soccer players. Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 6(12), 2325967118811042.
- Lima, A. B., Quinaud, R. T., Gonçalves, C. E., & Carvalho, H. M. (2023). Peak height velocity in young athletes: A longitudinal meta-analysis. Journal of sports sciences, 41(2), 151–163.
- Lloyd, R. S., Radnor, J. M., Croix, M. B. D. S., Cronin, J. B., & Oliver, J. L. (2016). Changes in sprint and jump performances after traditional, plyometric, and combined resistance training in male youth pre-and post-peak height velocity. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(5), 1239-1247.
- Oxendale, C., Green, M., Stokes, K., Cumming, S., Parry, G. N., & Williams, S. (2025). Distal-to-proximal progression of apophyseal injuries with age in male youth academy footballers: a two-season prospective cohort study of 16,024 player-seasons. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59(23), 1663-1669.
- Sluis, A., Elferink‐Gemser, M., Elferink‐Gemser, M., Brink, M., Brink, M., & Visscher, C. (2015). Importance of Peak Height Velocity Timing in Terms of Injuries in Talented Soccer Players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 36, 327 – 332.
- Towlson, C., Salter, J., Ade, J. D., Enright, K., Harper, L. D., Page, R. M., & Malone, J. J. (2021). Maturity-associated considerations for training load, injury risk, and physical performance in youth soccer: One size does not fit all. Journal of sport and health science, 10(4), 403-412.
- Wik, E., Martínez-Silván, D., Farooq, A., Cardinale, M., Johnson, A., & Bahr, R. (2020). Skeletal maturation and growth rates are related to bone and growth plate injuries in adolescent athletics. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 30, 894 – 903.