title: Differences between the sexes in the three-dimensional angular rotations of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex during treadmill running.
abstract: The aims of this experiment were to determine whether there are differences between the sexes in the three-dimensional angular rotations of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex during running and, if such differences exist, to establish whether factors other than sex can explain the observed differences. A cohort of 44 non-injured runners (22 males, 22 females) who usually ran more than 20 km per week were voluntarily recruited. All trials were conducted on a treadmill at a running speed of 4.0 m x s(-1). Reflective markers were placed over specific anatomical landmarks of the thoraco-lumbar spine, pelvis and femur. Data were captured using a VICON motion analysis system. Females tended to display a greater peak-to-peak oscillation for most of the angular rotations. An offset was the main difference between the male and female group mean waveforms for pelvis anterior-posterior tilt. Forward stepwise regression analysis revealed that sex was the most common variable related to the amplitudes of the angular rotations. Given these results, sport scientists conducting future biomechanical studies using angular data to test hypotheses are advised to be extremely cautious about averaging across male and female participants.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports Medicine Research and Education, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. a.schache@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schache
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wrigley
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics