Kasvukiirusta

Kasvukiirusta is a Finnish term used to describe periods of rapid physical growth in humans, most commonly during puberty but also occurring in early childhood. The word combines kasvu (growth) and kiirusta (spurting or speeding), and in everyday Finnish it is used to refer to the noticeable acceleration in height and body size that some children show as they approach adolescence.

In many populations, the pubertal growth spurt begins earlier in girls (roughly ages 9 to 14) and later in boys (roughly ages 11 to 15), with individual variation. The spurt usually lasts around 1 to 2 years, during which height can increase several centimeters per year. Other body changes, such as enlarging hands and feet, changes in body proportions, and development of secondary sexual characteristics, accompany the spurt.

During Kasvukiirusta, appetite may increase, sleep needs rise, and mood may fluctuate. Some people feel temporarily clumsy due to rapid limb growth.

Nutrition and sleep are important; adequate calories, protein, calcium, vitamin D, and regular physical activity support healthy growth. Growth rates vary, and concerns about unusually slow or rapid growth should be discussed with a health professional. Injuries can occur during rapid growth due to changes in balance.

Kasvukiirusta is a normal developmental phase, not a disease, and most individuals reach their final adult height after the growth spurt sequence completes in late adolescence.