GENDER DIFFERENCE IN IMPACTS DURING RUNNING

Abstract

The goal of this research was to determine whether gender differences exist in impact force and impact shock variables at stance phase during a preferred velocity running. Twelve male and ten female recreational runners were selected for this study. Comparisons of parameters relating to impact force and impact shock, which attained from time domain, and impact shock parameters, which were anal'yzed in frequency domain, were made between genders. There were no significantly differences in a magnitude of impact force and head and tibia acceleration between genders, but PSD (power spectral density) of peak impact shock at the tibia (p <. 05). Both male and female runners attenuated power between the tibia and head in 12-20 Hz impact range. However, female recreational runners exhibited that peak impact shock attenuation in the transfer function moved toward a high frequency band.