Inexperienced Males Research Articles

Predicting one repetition maximum in novice males: An RPE-based bench press model

This study aimed to estimate one repetition maximum (1RM) of healthy males based on the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) in bench press movement and to provide a particular predictive equation. Seventy healthy males (Age: 24.93 ± 0.64 years; BMI: 25.04 ± 0.35 kg/m2) with no previous experience of resistance training performed 1RM of bench press with closed eyes and then chose a number to determine the intensity by RPE scale of 1–10 (CR1-10 scale). The intensity of this repetition was randomly selected based on the percentages of 1RM: 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%. A special prediction equation was provided based on a mathematical model using the weight lifted, RPE, and RPE coefficient. Moreover, the standardized testing protocol of 1RM (STP) and Brzycki equation protocol (BEP) were used to verify the validity of the RPE equation. Predictive equations were produced and cross-validated using repeated k-fold cross-validation by stepwise multiple linear regression. BEP and STP did not differ significantly from RPE-equation in predicting 1RM (p > 0.05). Based on the BEP and STP, a 1RM attempt for inexperienced males resulted in 74.20 ± 2.24 kg and 77.47 ± 2.17, respectively, while the RPE equation produced 77.86 ± 2.58 kg. There were significant results for linear regression (p = 0.001). Pearson correlation coefficients between BEP and STP with predicted 1RM were 0.99. The new method of 1RM based on RPE performed well in 1RM performance in inexperienced males, and it appeared safe, accurate, and time-effective.

Timing and distance of natal dispersal in Asian black bears.

Dispersal has important implications for population ecology and genetics of a species through redistribution of individuals. In most mammals, males leave their natal area before they reach sexual maturity, whereas females are commonly philopatric. Here, we investigate the patterns of natal dispersal in the Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) based on data from 550 bears (378 males, 172 females) captured or removed in Gunma and Tochigi prefectures on central Honshu Island, Japan in 2003-2018. We used genetic data and parentage analysis to investigate sex-biased differences in the distance of natal dispersal. We further investigated the age of dispersal using spatial autocorrelation analysis, that is, the change in the correlation between genetic and geographic distances in each sex and age group. Our results revealed that male dispersal distances (mean ± SE = 17.4 ± 3.5 km) were significantly farther than female distances (4.8 ± 1.7 km), and the results were not affected by years of mast failures, a prominent forage source for this population. Based on an average adult female home range radius of 1.8 km, 96% of the males and 50% of the females dispersed. In the spatial autocorrelation analysis, the changes in the relationship between genetic and geographic distances were more pronounced in males compared to females. Males seem to mostly disperse at age 3 regardless of mast productivity, and they gradually disperse far from their home range, but young and inexperienced males may return to their natal home range in years with poor food conditions. The results suggest that factors driving the dispersal process seem to be population structure-based instead of forage availability-based. In females, a significant genetic relationship was observed among all individuals in the group with a minimum age of 6 years within a distance of 2 km, which resulted in the formation of matrilineal assemblages.

Does recent experience affect large male advantage in a sequentially-mating fish?

Abstract In many mating systems, large male body size is associated with dominance in direct contests with rivals and females may exhibit preference for larger males. As such, body size is often positively associated with mating success. However, mating experience can influence the potential advantage of large body size through alterations in behaviour and depletion of sperm reserves. In Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), males mate with many females each day, and larger males mate more frequently than smaller males. In an observational experiment, we tested the following alternate predictions: (1) recent mating experience may enhance mating success through a carry-over effect of prior mating, whereby small experienced males gain an advantage over large inexperienced rivals in mating contests; or (2) recent mating experience decreases mating success through a reduction in fertilization due to sperm limitation, effectively dampening the large-male advantage against a small inexperienced rival. We examined the interactive effect of size and recent experience on mating behaviour and success. While mating contests were monopolized by large males, recent experience enhanced mating success, especially in small male winners. Experienced males courted more readily than those without recent experience, suggesting that recent prior mating enhances this behaviour. Furthermore, males who had copulated recently did not exhibit sperm depletion when in the presence of a competitor, nor did female behaviour indicate a preference for inexperienced males. This suggests that males can use sexual experience to increase their reproductive success in future mating situations, which may influence the action of sexual selection and alternative tactics in shaping mating systems.

Multiple paternity in a lek mating system: Females mate multiply when they choose inexperienced sires.

Multiple mating by females is common and often driven by social constraints on female mate choice. However, females mate with multiple males even in systems without these social constraints and rates of multiple mating tend to be highly variable within and between populations. In lek mating systems, females are able to assess multiple males and their choice is unrestricted by pair bonds or the need for biparental care, yet some females mate with multiple males. To better understand the factors affecting variation in multiple mating, we investigated the occurrence of multiple paternity within clutches in a highly polygynous lek mating system. Using long-term data on genetic paternity, survival, social status and individual age from a population of lance-tailed manakins Chiroxiphia lanceolata, a species where males lek in cooperative alpha-beta pairs, we tested five non-exclusive hypotheses about the causes of variation in multiple mating and its benefits in females. We found that inexperienced males, including new alphas and rare beta sires, were disproportionately likely to share paternity when they sired any chicks. In contrast, female age (experience) was unrelated to multiple paternity. Multiple mating did not result in higher reproductive success or reduced variance in success for females, and there were neither consistently promiscuous females nor males that consistently shared paternity. The occurrence of multiple paternity in this lek mating system was best explained by female choice related to male characteristics that change with male experience. Our results support the hypothesis that there is a developmental component to the occurrence of multiple mating, and suggest females choose to mate multiply when their choices are not optimal.

Absence of previous sexual experience did not modify the response of anoestrous goats to photo-stimulated bucks in Spring

Sexually inexperienced rams display lower frequency of nudging, ano-genital sniffing, mounting attempts, and mounts with intromission than experienced ones. Experienced photo-stimulated males display high level of sexual behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine: i) whether sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males display similar sexual behaviour as the experienced ones, and ii) whether these inexperienced bucks can stimulate sexual response in anoestrous goats, as the experienced ones. Sexually inexperienced and experienced photo-stimulated males (n = 5 each) were used. In April, two groups of anovulatory females (n = 50 each) were exposed to these males for 15 d. Male sexual behaviour was registered for three days, upon their introduction into female groups. On day 1, the inexperienced males displayed higher nudging than the experienced ones (p < .001), whereas on days 2 and 3, the experienced males displayed higher nudging than the inexperienced ones (p < .001). The ano-genital sniffing, mounting attempts, and mounts with intromission did not differ between the inexperienced and experienced groups (p > .05). The proportion of females ovulating did not differ between the two groups (≥82 %; p = 1.0). Pregnancy rate (≥68 %; p = .829) did not differ between the females exposed to inexperienced or experienced males. It is concluded that sexually inexperienced photo-stimulated males show similar sexual behaviour as the experienced ones, and they are able to induce sexual response in seasonally anoestrous goats through the male effect.

Influence of Experience and Attentional Focus in a Single Arm Isokinetic Elbow Flexion

Previous research has shown that adopting an external focus (i.e., movement of the handle), rather than an internal focus (i.e., muscle contraction) increases force output and decreases muscle activation during an elbow flexion movement in men and women with strength training experience. However, little is known about the influence of attentional focus in novice populations. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of attentional focuses on muscle activation and force output among experienced and inexperienced males performing a unilateral isokinetic elbow flexion. METHODS: Fourteen male participants with >3 years of strength-training experience (EX group mean age 20.6 ± 0.9) and 9 novice participants with <6 months of resistance training experience (NOV group mean age 19.5 ± 1.0) performed 10 repetitions of a unilateral elbow flexion using a Biodex System 4 dynamometer. Repetitions were performed under 3 conditions (a control followed by randomly assigned internal and external focuses) at a speed of 60°(s-1). Peak torque (N·m) was measured by the Biodex, and peak muscle activation (mV) of the biceps brachii was measured using surface EMG. RESULTS: Within-group differences were analyzed using a repeated measures MANOVA. In the EX group, an external focus showed significantly higher peak torque (65.3 ± 3.2 N·m) than both the control (60.0 ± 3.2 N·m) and internal (50.1 ± 4.2 N·m) focus (all p<0.05). For the NOV group, there were no significant differences in peak torque production between any conditions. Further, there were no within-group significant differences in peak muscle activation for either group. CONCLUSION: Supporting previous research, our results show that adopting an external focus yields greater force output than an internal focus for experienced populations. However, no difference in force output is observed in novices with an external or internal focus. Thus, instructing experienced individuals to adopt an external focus may be beneficial for exercises where maximum force output is the goal, but additional research is needed to better understand the influence of attentional focus for similar exercises among novices. Supported by University of St. Thomas Collaborative Inquiry Grant.

One repetition maximum bench press performance: a new approach for its evaluation in inexperienced males and females. A pilot study

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method to perform the one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press test, by combining previously validated predictive and practical procedures. Eight young male and 7 female participants, with no previous experience of resistance training, performed a first set of repetitions to fatigue (RTF) with a workload corresponding to ⅓ of their body mass (BM) for a maximum of 25 repetitions. Following a 5-min recovery period, a second set of RTF was performed with a workload corresponding to ½ of participants’ BM. The number of repetitions performed in this set was then used to predict the workload to be used for the 1RM bench press test using Mayhew’s equation. Oxygen consumption, heart rate and blood lactate were monitored before, during and after each 1RM attempt. A significant effect of gender was found on the maximum number of repetitions achieved during the RTF set performed with ½ of participants’ BM (males: 25.0 ± 6.3; females: 11.0x± 10.6; t = 6.2; p < 0.001). The 1RM attempt performed with the workload predicted by Mayhew’s equation resulted in females performing 1.2 ± 0.7 repetitions, while males performed 4.8 ± 1.9 repetitions. All participants reached their 1RM performance within 3 attempts, thus resulting in a maximum of 5 sets required to successfully perform the 1RM bench press test. We conclude that, by combining previously validated predictive equations with practical procedures (i.e. using a fraction of participants’ BM to determine the workload for an RTF set), the new method we tested appeared safe, accurate (particularly in females) and time-effective in the practical evaluation of 1RM performance in inexperienced individuals.

Age-related changes to wheelchair efficiency and sprint power output in novice able-bodied males

This study examined the effect of age on sub-maximal wheelchair propulsion efficiency and sprint power output (SPO) in inexperienced able-bodied males. Two age groups were used for this study: a younger adult group (N = 10; mean age 24.8 ± 3.0 years) and an older adult group (N = 8; mean age 70.9 ± 5.2 years). No one had prior manual wheelchair experience. The primary outcome measures were gross mechanical efficiency (GME), mechanical effectiveness (ME) during sub-maximal treadmill wheeling and SPO during a max sprint test. There were no significant differences in GME; however, there was a significant difference in ME [0.74 ± 0.12 and 0.62 ± 0.08 (p = 0.007)] and sprint test [SPO = 224.66 ± 79.25 and 125.98 ± 53.02 (W) (p = 0.008)], for younger and older adults, respectively. Healthy, active older individuals can have a physiological capacity similar to younger populations to wheel sub-maximally, but their ME and lower SPO reduce the ability to propel manual wheelchairs during maximal wheeling.

One repetition maximum bench press performance: A new approach for its evaluation in inexperienced males and females: A pilot study

The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method to perform the one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press test, by combining previously validated predictive and practical procedures. Eight young male and 7 females participants, with no previous experience of resistance training, performed a first set of repetitions to fatigue (RTF) with a workload corresponding to ⅓ of their body mass (BM) for a maximum of 25 repetitions. Following a 5-min recovery period, a second set of RTF was performed with a workload corresponding to ½ of participants' BM. The number of repetitions performed in this set was then used to predict the workload to be used for the 1RM bench press test using Mayhew's equation. Oxygen consumption, heart rate and blood lactate were monitored before, during and after each 1RM attempt. A significant effect of gender was found on the maximum number of repetitions achieved during the RTF set performed with ½ of participants' BM (males: 25.0 ± 6.3; females: 11.0x± 10.6; t = 6.2; p < 0.001). The 1RM attempt performed with the workload predicted by Mayhew's equation resulted in females performing 1.2±0.7 repetitions, while males performed 4.8±1.9 repetitions. All participants reached their 1RM performance within 3 attempts, thus resulting in a maximum of 5 sets required to successfully perform the 1RM bench press test. We conclude that, by combining previously validated predictive equations with practical procedures (i.e. using a fraction of participants' BM to determine the workload for an RTF set), the new method we tested appeared safe, accurate (particularly in females) and time-effective in the practical evaluation of 1RM performance in inexperienced individuals.

The effects of vasopressin deficiency on aggression and impulsiveness in male and female rats.

The role of vasopressin in aggression received much attention in recent years. However, vasopressin has complex roles on social behavior, which are affected by social experience, motivation and hormonal background, suggesting that its effects depend on the condition of subjects. This hypothesis was tested here by studying the impact of vasopressin deficiency on aggressiveness in reproductively naive and reproductively experienced males, as well as in lactating females, with special reference to the patterns and contexts of attack behavior. We also studied effects on impulsiveness, a behavioral feature strongly related to aggression. Vasopressin deficiency did not affect aggressiveness in reproductively experienced males, decreased the share of violent attacks in reproductively inexperienced males without affecting total attack counts, and suppressed maternal aggression in both early and late phases of lactation; violent forms of attack were decreased in the latter but not the former phase. Changes in aggression appeared unrelated to general changes in maternal behaviors. Impulsivity in the delay discounting task was markedly decreased by vasopressin deficiency in lactating females but not males. Taken together, our findings confirm that vasopressin has an impact on aggressiveness, but show that this impact depends on the condition of subjects, and suggest that the effects of vasopressin on maternal aggression develop in conjunction with impulsivity. Interestingly, overall effects on aggression and specific effects on violent attacks dissociated in both males and females, which hints to the possibility that vasopressin has distinct roles in the development of escalated forms of aggression.

Do newborn vocalizations affect the behavioral and hormonal responses of nonreproductive male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)?

Parental care in mammals is influenced by sensory stimuli from infants, such as sight and sound, and by changes in the hormone levels of caretakers. To determine the responsiveness of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) adult males with and without previous experience in caretaking to newborn sensory cues, we exposed twelve males to infant vocalization recordings and assessed their hormonal and behavioral responses. Males were placed in the testing cage for 10 min under two conditions: (a) control condition (exposure to adult conspecific vocalization recordings), and (b) experimental condition (exposure to infant vocalization recordings). We recorded the frequency of approach towards the sound source, the time spent near it and locomotion frequency of males in the cage under both conditions. Blood samples were collected after each test for cortisol, measured by the enzyme immunoassay method. Infant vocalization affects the behavioral and hormonal responses of non-reproductive male common marmosets. All males approached and spent more time near the sound source and showed an increase in locomotion during infant vocalization exposure compared to the control condition. Successive exposure to infant vocalization increased the responsiveness in inexperienced males. Cortisol levels were significantly higher following infant vocalization exposure compared to the control condition. These findings support the assumption that sound stimuli from the newborn are critical in initiating and maintaining caretaker responsiveness and that cortisol seems to be important for alertness to sensory stimuli, modulating their motivation to interact with infants.

Alloparental Responsiveness to Newborns by Nonreproductive, Adult Male, Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Parental care in mammals is influenced by sensory stimuli from infants, and by changes in the hormone levels of caretakers. To determine the responsiveness to infant cues in nonreproductive adult male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) with and without previous experience in caretaking, we exposed 12 males to newborn marmosets and assessed their cortisol plasma levels and behavioral response. Newborn marmosets housed in transparent enclosures were placed inside the cages of the adult male subjects. Males were exposed four times to two different experimental conditions: (a) newborn enclosures remained closed during the observation period and (b) newborn enclosures were opened during the observation period to allow direct social interaction by the adult males. Blood samples from adult males were collected after each behavioral observation trial to measure the levels of cortisol. The behavioral responses of adult males exposed to the closed and open newborn enclosures showed a significant difference only with respect to the frequency of displacements, where males moved among the quadrants of their own cages with greater frequency when the newborn enclosure was sealed. Experienced males approached newborn enclosures more frequently, spent more time in close proximity, and carried and recovered newborns more quickly than inexperienced males. The successive exposure to newborns increased the responsiveness in inexperienced males. The highest levels of plasma cortisol in adult males were recorded following periods of exposure to the sealed newborn enclosures. This suggests that successive exposure to newborns and previous alloparental caregiving experience while living in family groups influences the responsiveness of male marmosets to the sensory cues of newborns.

Differential hypothalamic secretion of neurocrines in male common marmosets: parental experience effects?

Pregnancy and lactation produce a plethora of hormonal changes in females that promote maternal care of offspring. Males in the biparental marmoset species (Callithrix jacchus) demonstrate high levels of parenting behaviour and express enhanced circulating reproductive hormones. Furthermore, these hormonal changes are influenced by paternal experience. To determine whether the paternally experienced male marmoset has altered neurocrine hypothalamic release, as the maternal females does, we examined the release of several reproductive neurocrines, dopamine (DA), oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP) and prolactin (PRL), in cultured explants of the hypothalamus of paternally experienced male marmosets compared to naïve, paternally inexperienced males. DA levels secreted from the isolated hypothalamus were significantly lower in the experienced males, whereas OT and PRL levels were significantly higher than levels found in inexperienced males. PRL levels decreased rapidly in the hypothalamic media, suggesting that PRL production occurs elsewhere. AVP levels did not change. Stimulation of the cultured explants with oestradiol significantly decreased DA levels in the inexperienced males but did not alter the other neurocrines, suggesting a direct effect of oestradiol on DA suppression in the hypothalamus. Although other factors such as age and rearing experience with siblings may play a role in hypothalamic neurocrine levels, these results demonstrate that paternal experience may impact upon the secretion of neurocrines in a male biparental primate.

Relationship between brood sex ratio and male ornaments depends on male age in a warbler

Sex allocation theory predicts that females should bias the sex ratio of their offspring in response to differences in the reproductive value of sons and daughters. For example, paternal traits (ornaments) that are associated with male quality and reproductive success may result in male-biased sex ratios when inheritance of these traits is more beneficial to sons than to daughters. However, the information content of male ornaments, as well as the ornaments themselves, may change with male experience. If females are responsive to changes in the information content of signals, the result may be context-specific patterns of sex allocation. In a 3-year study of 50 common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas, females and their 287 young, we found that biased sex ratios were associated with male ornamentation, but that these deviations were not consistent across male experience classes. Females produced clutches with male-biased sex ratios when they were mated to young males with elaborate ornaments, but not when they were mated to older males. Male-biased broods were also associated with differences in offspring quality, as measured by average nestling mass. At our field site in New York, U.S.A., ornaments are generally more indicative of viability and condition among young, inexperienced males than among older males. We suggest that the relationship between male traits and the relative value of sons and daughters may change across male experience classes. Such changes may obscure patterns of adaptive sex-ratio bias and contribute to mixed results in the sex allocation literature.

Causes and consequences of male–male courtship in fruit flies

The mechanisms maintaining homosexual behaviour in animals are not well understood. In fruit flies, where male–male courtship is prevalent, it has been suggested that young males gain from being courted by mature males, perhaps through learning. I conducted two series of experiments to critically examine why mature males court immature males and what immature males may gain from such courtship. The results indicate that mature males do not identify the sex of the sexually ambiguous immature males and find them attractive even after substantial experience. These findings agree with recent research indicating that males initially court a broad range of potential mating targets and then narrow their courtship focus based on their experience of being rejected by classes of flies such as recently mated females or heterospecific females, which are clearly identified by their distinct pheromonal profiles. Compared to inexperienced males, males that either had received courtship when immature or had been housed with mature males when young did not have either higher mating frequencies or shorter mating latencies but spent more time courting females. Such higher courtship intensities may translate into a mating advantage in some settings. It appears that young males that interact with mature males develop into a sexually aggressive phenotype, which could better prepare them to compete for females.

The Effect of Experience on Male Courtship and Mating Behaviors in a Cellar Spider

Experience effects on mating have been implicated as important factors that can account for some of the variability in responses by prospective mates. Previous studies have demonstrated that sexual experience and learning can play significant roles in female choice; however, few studies have concentrated on experience effects in males. Using a partially sex-role reversed cellar spider, Pholcus phalangioides, in two laboratory experiments, we addressed the importance of male experience with (1) nonvirgin female cues associated with silk and (2) virgin females on a suite of male behaviors associated with mating. We discovered that males experienced with female silk and associated cues courted nonvirgin females for a longer duration than inexperienced males. Courtship latency and courtship duration had significant effects on mating success in trials involving inexperienced, but not experienced males. Female leg length affected the mating success of experienced, but not inexperienced males. Interestingly, no males mated twice when sequentially presented with two virgin females over a 24 h period, and most mated males (92%) failed to court the second female. Our findings suggest that male experience affects mating behaviors with both mated and virgin females and that males may be sperm limited.

Effects of social experience on subsequent sexual performance in naïve male Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica)

On their first sexual encounter, naïve male Japanese quail will attend to and approach a female; they sometimes mount but they do not always copulate. During the second encounter, most males successfully copulate. Although sexual experience facilitates subsequent sexual interactions, sensory cues provided by females, independent of any sexual encounter, may also enhance sexual performance. To investigate whether previous exposure to a conspecific affects subsequent sexual behavior, we allowed inexperienced males to observe an empty box, or a conspecific consisting of either an experienced female or male for 2.5 min/day on 7 days. Measures of appetitive sexual behavior were recorded during these tests. On day 8, subjects were allowed to copulate with a novel female for 5 min. On the following days, all subjects were repeatedly provided with visual access to a female and allowed to mate. In the pre-copulatory trials males initially exhibited a high frequency of appetitive responses that dissipated with repetition. Pre-copulatory experience also significantly affected motivation to mate with subjects exposed to females copulating more quickly than other subjects. Post-copulatory appetitive behavior also differed between groups: control subjects showed the highest behavioral frequency followed by males exposed to females and finally males exposed to males. These data indicate that pre-copulatory social experience profoundly influences subsequent sexual behavior and probably reproductive success. This experience effect is independent of any hormonal effect (such as one resulting from changes in secretion following different social interactions) given that the subjects were castrates chronically treated with testosterone.

Learning decreases heterospecific courtship and mating in fruit flies.

Recent theory and data suggest that adaptive use of learning in the context of sexual behaviour could contribute to assortative mating. Experiments examining this issue indicated that male Drosophila persimilis that experienced courtship and rejection by heterospecific females exhibited significantly lower levels of heterospecific courtship and mating compared with those of inexperienced males. These results indicate that experience in the context of sexual behaviour in fruit flies could reduce gene flow between diverging populations, which may contribute to incipient speciation.

Rodent control and food supplementation increase productivity of endangered San Clemente Loggerhead Shrikes ( Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi)

Habitat loss and predation by exotic predators have contributed to the decline of many island populations of birds, including San Clemente Loggerhead Shrikes ( Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi). This critically endangered subspecies has been the recipient of an extensive and expensive recovery effort, including a captive breeding and release program. We examined the effects of life-history characteristics, rainfall, and management, particularly food supplementation and rat ( Rattus rattus) control, on the breeding productivity of 172 San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike pairs from 2000 to 2006. Annual fecundity and the number of fledglings reaching independence per pair varied with year and were closely correlated with prebreeding (November–March) precipitation levels. Annual fecundity increased as a result of management implemented between April and July each year. Shrike pairs receiving no management during this period produced a mean of 1.9 fledglings. Pairs receiving both food and rat control produced an average of 2.5 more fledglings than pairs receiving no management, while pairs receiving rat control alone produced an average of 1.1 more fledglings than pairs receiving no management during this period. Wild-origin females produced an average of 0.8 more fledglings per pair than captive-origin females, while older males produced an average of 0.9 more fledglings and independent young relative to inexperienced males. The effects of food supplementation and rat control on San Clemente Loggerhead Shrikes were most pronounced during dry years, suggesting such management should be emphasized when prebreeding precipitation levels are below historical averages. These techniques offer an effective means to increase breeding productivity of avian species in immediate threat of extinction.

Are males and females similarly consistent in their respective lifting patterns?

The purpose of this study was to assess the reproducibility of a lifting motion and whether there is a gender difference in terms of a consistent performance. Thirty-four healthy inexperienced males and females performed a lifting task of a load that was 20% of their personal lifting capacity on four separate testing days, while an electromagnetic motion tracking system recorded the lifting motion. All kinematic data were analysed with a mixed two-factor repeated measures multivariate ANOVA (gender × day) design. There were no significant day or gender differences indicating consistency exists in the lifting pattern. It is expected that individuals will adapt their lifting pattern to meet the needs of the lifting task. Given that the pattern was consistent over time for a specific task, it suggests a set motor pattern may be established. This knowledge has implications for work assessment strategies and training programmes.