Dc. Kerrigan et al., GENDER DIFFERENCES IN JOINT BIOMECHANICS DURING WALKING - NORMATIVE STUDY IN YOUNG-ADULTS, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 77(1), 1998, pp. 2-7
The effect of gender on specific joint biomechanics during gait has be
en largely unexplored. Given the perceived, subjective, and temporal d
ifferences in walking between genders, we hypothesized that quantitati
ve analysis would reveal specific gender differences in joint biomecha
nics as well. Sagittal kinematic (joint motion) and kinetic (joint tor
que and power) data from the lower limbs during walking were collected
and analyzed in 99 young adult subjects (49 females), aged 20 to 40 y
ears, using an optoelectronic motion analysis and force platform syste
m. Kinetic data were normalized for both height and weight. Female and
male data were compared graphically and statistically to assess diffe
rences in all major peak joint kinematic and kinetic values. Females h
ad significantly greater hip flexion and less knee extension before in
itial contact, greater knee flexion moment in pre-swing, and greater p
eak mechanical joint power absorption at the knee in pre-swing (P < 0.
0019 for each parameter). Other differences were noted (P < 0.05) that
were not statistically significant when accounting for multiple compa
risons. These gender differences may provide new insights into walking
dynamics and may be important for both clinical and research studies
in motivating the development of separate biomechanical reference data
bases for males and females.