Affiliations: [a] Lexington Physical Therapy, University of Kentucky,
Lexington, KY 40517, USA | [b] College of Allied Health, University of Kentucky,
Lexington, KY 40536, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: James W. Bellew, Lexington Physical
Therapy, 1401 Tates Creek Center Dr., Suite 158, Lexington, KY 40517, USA.
Tel.: +1 606 271-2887; Fax: +1 606 271-2889; E-mail:
jwbmel@uky.campus.mci.net
Abstract: Objective: To assess gender specific differences in the decline of
quadriceps strength under concentric and eccentric conditions. Design: Sixty
volunteer subjects clear of musculoskeletal pathology were gender matched to
three age groups (20-29, 40-49 and 60-69) with ten subjects in each gender-age
group. Subjects performed concentric and eccentric knee extension at
60o. s-1 and 120o . s-1 on a Cybex
6000 isokinetics dynamometer. Strength was measured as peak torque (PT) as a
percentage of gross body weight. The rate os strength decline between genders
at each contraction type and angular velocity was expressed by plotting
regression lines and comparing slopes for significant difference. Results:
Eleven of twelve inter- and intragender comparing of stregth decline failed to
reveal significance with either angular velocity or contraction type (p = 0.09
- 0.97). However, unlike the males, females revealed a more significant rate of
decline in eccentric strength than with concentric at 120 o .s
-1 (p < 0.05). Intergender comparison of concentric strength at
120 o .s -1 was insignificant difference between genders,
female displayed a more precipitous rate of decline in eccentric strength than
concentric. Furthermore, but statistically insignificant at p = 0.09, males
appear to lose concentric strength at a greater rate than do females at the
faster angular velocity.
