Comparison of isokinetic knee flexion and extension between men and women

Abstract

Previous research that investigated gender differences, mainly focussed on differences in isokinetic peak torque only. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate possible gender differences in more than one isokinetic variable: peak torque, angle of peak torque, work and agonist/antagonist (H/Q) ratios at two different isokinetic velocities in the knee joint. Participants were drawn from 85 university students: 50 males and 35 females with mean ages of 21 (}3.5) and 22 (}2.5) years, respectively. A Cybex Norm 7000 isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate knee flexion and extension at 60‹/s and 180‹/s. Statistical significance was set at a confidence level of 95% (p.0.05). In terms of normalised knee extension and knee flexion peak torque, men were significantly stronger than women (p=0.000). Men also performed significantly more work per body mass than women for knee extension and knee flexion (p=0.000). A significant difference between men and women was reported for the knee extension angle of peak torque (p=0.025) at 60‹/s. There were no significant differences between men and women for the knee H/Q peak torque ratios and for the knee H/Q work ratios. In conclusion, men were stronger and performed more work than women during knee flexion and extension, but there was no difference in the H/Q ratios. At the slower speed, men recruited their knee extensors significantly earlier than women.