MAXIMUM KNEE TORQUE AND ACCELERATION COMPLETELY DISCRIMINATE GENDER AT HIGH SPEEDS

Abstract

Human performance variation by gender has been reported to be a function of neuromuscular activation patterns resulting in a male bias. This bias is most evident during maximum intensity work involving strength and speed and results in a neuromotoric response of males activating a greater percentage of their available motor neurons. PURPOSE To discriminate gender based on max torque and acceleration ROM measurements derived from an isokinetic knee extension test at two separate speeds. METHODS Twenty subjects (10 male, 10 female, age 22.3(1.9) yrs) volunteered for this study. Subjects performed three maximal concentric knee extension repetitions at speeds of 60 and 360 degrees per second (d/s) on a Biodex system 3 isokinetic dynamometer. The acceleration (ACC) ROM phase and the max torque produced during the load range phase were separated from each repetition at each speed. Discriminate analysis was used to predict gender from ACC at 360 d/s and torque at 60 d/s. RESULTS Males demonstrated significantly (p<0.01) greater torque at 60 d/s (166.8(18.1) vs. 101.9(11.6) ft/lbs) and less ACC ROM at 360 d/s (20.1(2.0) vs. 25.9(2.2) degs) when compared to females. Analysis showed that combined maximum torque and acceleration ROM correctly predicted 10 of 10 females (100 percent) and 10 of 10 males (100 percent). The overall correct prediction outcome for both genders was 20 of 20 subjects (100 percent). It is evident from the prediction outcome that maximum torque and acceleration ROM performance between genders accounts for any and all variance during discriminate analysis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate that maximum torque and kinematics may be valuable when attempting to discriminate performance based on gender. Future research should attempt to isolate other intrinsic variables that may explain the neuromotoric discrepancy between genders.