Biomaterial Database

Relationships between selected muscle endurance tasks and gender. 2007

Neil T Laughlin, and Patricia L Busk

Department of Physical Education, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94112, USA. laughlinn@usfca.edu

The purpose of this research was to examine possible relationships between selected muscle endurance tasks and gender. Until 1990, girls' and women's programs infrequently contained activities such as sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and exercises with resistance equipment. This lack of exposure may have, in turn, resulted in much poorer performance than men when examined in experimental settings. The results of a discriminant analysis indicated that the women (n = 31) in this study did not differ from men (n = 31) in the mean number of sit-ups, modified push-ups, and leg adductions performed, but that the men performed more lateral arm raises than the women (p < 0.05). When the influence of the age, height, and weight of the subjects (mean +/- SD; 24.13 +/- 7.50 years, 173.05 +/- 8.77 cm, 76.34 +/- 13.01 kg for men; 26.61 +/- 11.12 years, 161.82 +/- 6.47 cm, 58.89 +/- 10.91 kg for women) was examined, there were only small changes in the structure of the discriminant function generated in the first analysis. These findings should be approached with caution because of possible limitations related to the size and representativeness of the sample and lack of measurement equipment such as video cameras. The fact that the pattern of results in this study differed somewhat from patterns in earlier research may indicate that the findings in this study are: (a) a random result or comparison anomaly related to characteristics specific to this convenience sample of women and men or (b) suggestive that differences between women and men in the tests chosen may be representative of changes that are beginning to occur in the degree of differences between men and women in college resistance training or other fitness-related classes. Practical applications of the results of this study for teachers of resistance training or fitness-related classes in secondary school, college, and adult recreation might be that fitness programs should be individualized to meet needs specific to each student and that coeducational classes and programs should be expanded, especially offerings of fitness-related activities.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010806	Physical Education and Training	Instructional programs in the care and development of the body, often in schools. The concept does not include prescribed exercises, which is EXERCISE THERAPY.	Education, Physical,Physical Education,Physical Education, Training
D010807	Physical Endurance	The time span between the beginning of physical activity by an individual and the termination because of exhaustion.	Endurance, Physical,Physical Stamina,Stamina, Physical
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D015444	Exercise	Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure.	Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise
D016002	Discriminant Analysis	A statistical analytic technique used with discrete dependent variables, concerned with separating sets of observed values and allocating new values. It is sometimes used instead of regression analysis.	Analyses, Discriminant,Analysis, Discriminant,Discriminant Analyses
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles