Author: Chumanov, E.S.; Wall-Scheffler, C.; Heiderscheit, B.C.
Description: BACKGROUND: Gender differences in kinematics during running have been speculated to be a contributing factor to the lower extremity injury rate disparity between men and women. Specifically, increased non-sagittal motion of the pelvis and hip has been implicated; however it is not known if this difference exists under a variety of locomotion conditions. The purpose of this study was to characterize gender differences in gait kinematics and muscle activities as a function of speed and surface incline and to determine if lower extremity anthropometrics contribute to these differences.
METHODS: Whole body kinematics of 34 healthy volunteers were recorded along with electromyography of muscles on the right lower limb while each subject walked at 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8m/s and ran at 1.8, 2.7, and 3.6m/s with surface inclinations of 0%, 10%, and 15% grade. Joint angles and muscle activities were compared between genders across each speed-incline condition. Pelvis and lower extremity segment lengths were also measured and compared.
FINDINGS: Females displayed greater peak hip internal rotation and adduction, as well as gluteus maximus activity for all conditions. Significant interactions (speed-gender, incline-gender) were present for the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis. Hip adduction during walking was moderately correlated to the ratio of bi-trochanteric width to leg length.
INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate females display greater non-sagittal motion. Future studies are needed to better define the relationship of these differences to injury risk.
Subject headings: Adolescent; Biomechanical Phenomena, Buttocks/physiology; Electromyography; Exercise Test; Female, Gait/physiology; Hip Joint/physiology; Humans; Leg/physiology; Male; Movement/physiology; Muscle Contraction/physiology; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology; Range of Motion, Articular/physiology; Running/physiology; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors; Thigh/physiology; Walking/physiology; Young Adult
Publication year: 2008
Journal or book title: Clinical Biomechanics
Volume: 23
Issue: 10
Pages: 1260-1268
Find the full text: https://uwnmbl.engr.wisc.edu/pubs/cb08_chumanov.pdf
Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=12229840637519586606&as_sdt=1000005&sciodt=0,16&hl=en
Type: Journal Article
Serial number: 1630