title: Contributions of strength and body composition to the gender difference in anaerobic power.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the significant factors contributing to the difference between men and women in anaerobic power (AP) generation. METHODS.
  
  
  METHODS
  College men (n = 113) and women (n = 175) were randomly selected for evaluation from a fitness class prior to training.
  
  
  METHODS
  AP was determined from the Margaria-Kalamen stair run. Dynamic strength was evaluated from the 1-RM single-leg extension. Body composition was estimated from gender-specific skinfold prediction equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Discriminant analysis identified %fat, fat-free mass (FFM), and leg extension strength as significant components differentiating between men and women and allowed proper gender classification in 99% of the cases. When both strength and body composition variables were held constant by covariance, there was no significant difference between men and women in AP (F = 1.25). A multiple regression equation using %fat, FFM, and leg extension strength predicted AP (R = 0.91) with an error of 150 W. When the multiple regression equations was applied to a cross-validation sample, AP could be accurately predicted (r = 0.91, t = 0.17) with an average error of 3% +/- 21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body size and dynamic strength are the major factors explaining the explosive leg power difference between men and women without a specific or unique gender quality.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Truman State University and Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, Missouri, USA. jmayhew@truman.edu
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rollison
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors