No difference in plantar flexion maximal exercise power output between men and women

Abstract

Background Maximal oxygen consumption \( \dot{V}O_{{2{\text{MAX}}}} \) can be lower in women compared to men during traditional, systemic exercise even when corrected for differences in fat free mass (FFM). One potential source for lower \( \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{MAX}}}} \) might be inherent differences in muscle in men and women. Exercising isolated muscle such as plantar flexion provides the opportunity to study muscle function independent of systemic O2 delivery limitations. It was hypothesized that women would have lower plantar flexion power output (PO) than men even when corrected to calf FFM.