The "growth spurt" is a major milestone in adolescence. Here's what PHV means and why it matters.
Peak Height Velocity (PHV) refers to the fastest rate of height growth during adolescence. It's not a single day or week, but a window of rapid physical change that typically lasts several months.
During PHV, bones often grow faster than muscles and tendons can adapt. At the same time, the nervous system is recalibrating movement patterns.
This is why children may temporarily experience:
These changes are a normal part of development, not a sign that something is wrong. They're temporary and reversible as the body adapts to its new proportions.
MatCalc indicates whether a child is likely pre-PHV (before the spurt), approaching PHV, in PHV (during rapid growth), or post-PHV (after stabilisation).
This context helps parents understand short-term changes in performance or confidence — and reassures them that temporary regressions are expected and reversible.
Instead of worrying "why can't they do what they could last month?", parents gain insight: "they're in their growth spurt, this is normal."
MatCalc is designed to help parents better understand patterns of growth and development. It does not diagnose medical conditions or replace advice from qualified healthcare professionals. If you ever have concerns about your child's health or wellbeing, a medical professional should always be consulted.