title: Gender Differences in Static and Dynamic Postural Stability of Soldiers in the Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postural stability is essential for injury prevention and performance. Differences between genders may affect training focus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine static and dynamic postural stability in male and female soldiers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biomechanics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 healthy female soldiers (26.4 ± 5.3 y) and 25 healthy male soldiers (26.4 ± 4.9 y) matched on physical demand rating and years of service from the Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
  
  
  METHODS
  Each person underwent static and dynamic postural stability testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard deviation of the ground reaction forces during static postural stability and the dynamic stability index for dynamic postural stability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female soldiers had significantly better static postural stability than males but no differences were observed in dynamic postural stability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postural stability is important for injury prevention, performance optimization, and tactical training. The differences observed in the current study may indicate the need for gender-specific training emphasis on postural stability.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.forename: Mita T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wirt
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lephart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D004856:Postural Balance; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: balance; injury prevention; military