ORIGINAL PAPER
Menarche, somatic maturity, and physical fitness in Portuguese girls: an intergenerational analysis based on the Mirwald equation
1
Applied Research Institute, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
2
Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center, Coimbra, Portugal
3
Department of Sports and Well-being – Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
4
SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center, Castelo Branco, Portugal
5
Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Educação, Setúbal, Portugal
6
Centro de Investigação e Inovação em Desporto Atividade Física e Saúde, Rio Maior, Portugal
7
Life Quality Research Center (CIEQV), Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Setúbal, Portugal
8
Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal
9
Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
10
Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Submission date: 2025-09-12
Acceptance date: 2025-11-27
Online publication date: 2026-03-03
Corresponding author
Ana Filipa Silva
Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços – S. Martinho do Bispo; 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal
Sport Physical Activity and Health Research and Innovation Center, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços – S. Martinho do Bispo; 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
This study aimed to assess age at menarche in Portuguese girls and compare it with their mothers, examine its association with somatic maturity estimated by the Mirwald equation, and characterise physical fitness in pre- and post-pubertal girls.
Material and methods:
71 Portuguese girls (10–13 years, post-menarche) completed a questionnaire on menarcheal age (self and mothers), anthropometric assessments (height, sitting height, body mass, waist circumference), and physical fitness tests (handgrip, isometric mid-thigh pull, 3-min Kasch Pulse Recovery Test). Somatic maturity was estimated with the Mirwald equation. Analyses included paired and independent t-tests, effect sizes, correlations, and agreement (Bland–Altman, Lin’s CCC).
Results:
Pre-PHV girls had negative maturity offset values (–0.58 ± 0.62 years), while post-PHV girls were beyond PHV (1.28 ± 0.91 years). Mean age at menarche was 10.87 ± 0.93 years, significantly earlier than their mothers (12.00 ± 1.44 years; mean difference = –1.09, p < 0.001). Post-PHV girls showed higher absolute strength (handgrip right: 18.86 ± 3.68 vs. 12.74 ± 3.10 kg, d = 1.72; IMTP: 63.46 ± 12.54 vs. 45.58 ± 11.93 kg, d = 1.44), while relative strength differences were smaller (handgrip: 0.35 ± 0.08 vs. 0.30 ± 0.09 kg/kg, d = 0.67). Endurance did not differ. The Mirwald equation underestimated years since menarche by 0.94 ± 1.10, with weak agreement (Lin’s CCC = 0.37).
Conclusions:
Biological maturation strongly influenced absolute strength, largely explained by body size. Relative strength and maturity offset-based estimates of years since menarche showed weaker validity, highlighting the need for refined prediction models.
This study aimed to assess age at menarche in Portuguese girls and compare it with their mothers, examine its association with somatic maturity estimated by the Mirwald equation, and characterise physical fitness in pre- and post-pubertal girls.
Material and methods:
71 Portuguese girls (10–13 years, post-menarche) completed a questionnaire on menarcheal age (self and mothers), anthropometric assessments (height, sitting height, body mass, waist circumference), and physical fitness tests (handgrip, isometric mid-thigh pull, 3-min Kasch Pulse Recovery Test). Somatic maturity was estimated with the Mirwald equation. Analyses included paired and independent t-tests, effect sizes, correlations, and agreement (Bland–Altman, Lin’s CCC).
Results:
Pre-PHV girls had negative maturity offset values (–0.58 ± 0.62 years), while post-PHV girls were beyond PHV (1.28 ± 0.91 years). Mean age at menarche was 10.87 ± 0.93 years, significantly earlier than their mothers (12.00 ± 1.44 years; mean difference = –1.09, p < 0.001). Post-PHV girls showed higher absolute strength (handgrip right: 18.86 ± 3.68 vs. 12.74 ± 3.10 kg, d = 1.72; IMTP: 63.46 ± 12.54 vs. 45.58 ± 11.93 kg, d = 1.44), while relative strength differences were smaller (handgrip: 0.35 ± 0.08 vs. 0.30 ± 0.09 kg/kg, d = 0.67). Endurance did not differ. The Mirwald equation underestimated years since menarche by 0.94 ± 1.10, with weak agreement (Lin’s CCC = 0.37).
Conclusions:
Biological maturation strongly influenced absolute strength, largely explained by body size. Relative strength and maturity offset-based estimates of years since menarche showed weaker validity, highlighting the need for refined prediction models.
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