Patterns of glenohumeral joint laxity and stiffness in healthy men and women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify gender-related differenc es in glenohumeral (GH) joint laxity, stiffness, and generalized joint hype rmobility in healthy men and women, Methods: Fifty-one healthy men and wome n were tested for generalized joint hypermobility, and anterior-posterior ( AP) joint laxity and stiffness using a single-group factorial design. Resul ts: Women exhibited significantly more anterior joint laxity (men 8.3 +/- 2 .2 mm vs women 11.4 +/- 2.8 mm, P < 0.001) and less anterior joint stiffnes s (men 20.5 +/- 5.0 N.mm(-1) vs women 16.3 +/- 4.2 N.mm(-1), P < 0.01) than men. Men had significantly more posterior joint laxity than anterior (Ant 8.3 +/- 2.2 mm vs Post 9.6 +/- 2.9 mm; P < 0.001), and women also had signi ficantly less anterior joint stiffness than posterior [Ant 16.3 +/- 4.2 N.m m(-1) vs Post 22.1 +/- 6.9 N.mm(-1); P < 0.01], Women also demonstrated sig nificantly more generalized joint hypermobility than men (men 1.0 +/- 1.7 v s women 2.9 +/- 2.1; P = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings may indicate a po ssible increased risk for instability in women, especially those participat ing in sports that require repetitive overhead-throwing motion. Future inve stigations should seek to determine the contribution of increased GH joint laxity and decreased joint stiffness to various injury states and examine t hese Variables in other populations such as overhead-throwing athletes.