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ASSESSMENT OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN ANAEROBIC POWER AND CAPACITY
Tahir HAZIR , Ş. Nazan KOŞAR
Hacettepe University, School of Sport Sciences and Technology, Ankara, TURKEY
INTRODUCTION
Results of the studies examining gender differences in anaerobic performance have shown that
in absolute terms anaerobic power and capacity of males are significantly greater than those of
females. However, the findings are confusing when data is expressed relative to body weight, lean
body mass, muscle cross sectional area or active muscle mass. In studies comparing the individual
differences in anaerobic performance, it is common to express the data relative to body weight in order
to eliminate the influence of body dimensions. However, due to the differences in body composition
(body fat percent, lean body mass etc.) among individuals there is a contradiction against to use of
relative data scaled to body weight (Batterham and Birch, 1996; Nevill et al., 1992). Also, Mayhew
(2001) demonstrated that body fat percent and lean body mass were significant differentiating
components between men and women and allowed proper gender classification in 99% of the cases in
his study. The results of these studies suggested that normalization of anaerobic performance data
using body weight is not an independent index of body dimensions. In light of the discussion above,
the purpose of this study was to determine gender differences in anaerobic power and capacity by
using body weight, lean body mass and muscle cross sectional area as correction factors and analyzing
data by using two different statistical methods: i) scaling data to body weight, lean body mass and
muscle cross sectional area, ii) normalizing data by using body weight, lean body mass and muscle
cross sectional area as covariates.
METHODS
A total of 53 university students (Male: 27 and Female: 26) from the department of physical
education and sports were voluntarily participated in this study. The tests included measurement of
anthropometric measures and Wingate test. Subjects were tested with a standard sport wear (sport
shoes, short and t-shirt), after 2-3 hours following their usual breakfast, in the morning between the
hours of 10:00-12:00 to circadian rhythm effects (Hill et al., 1991). In order to eliminate the effects of
menstrual cycles on body composition parameters (Bunt et al., 1989) and anaerobic performance
subjects were tested during the follicular phase of menstrual cycle. Body fat percent was calculated by
using the equations developed by Açıkada et al., (1995a and 1995b). Thigh muscle cross sectional area
(CSA) at the mid-part of the thigh was calculated by the equation developed by Knapik et al., (1996).
Anaerobic power and capacity were determined using a Monarch 814E (Sweden) bicycle ergometer
according to the Wingate Anaerobic Test procedures (Inbar, Bar-Or & Skinner, 1996). For gender
comparisons with respect to anaerobic performance measures two different statistical analysis were