Growth spurts

In the blood stream, the rising levels of sex steroids increase the production of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. Together with thyroid hormone this triggers a growth spurt.

In girls this growth spurt begins around 11 years old, but in boys it is usually seen in the early teenage years. During this growth spurt, the young person’s hands and feet grow first, followed by lengthening of the limbs and then elongation of the body.

However, the body’s ability to control movements is acquired from the head downwards; beginning at the head and moving down the body (cephalo-caudal) and from the centre of the body to the limbs (proximo-distal). This can mean a loss of dexterity during the growth spurt, looking as though the adolescent is becoming clumsy. However, this clumsiness does stop as the young person becomes more able to control their movements.