Gore, S. A., Keller, B. A., & Ives, J. C. (2003). Gender differences in central and peripheral factors of skeletal muscle fatigue. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 801.

Male and female athletes were matched (N = 8 pairs) for thigh lean muscle volume. Maximum voluntary contraction was measured during a 5-sec maximum isometric contraction with superimposed electrical stimulation. Ss then completed a fatigue protocol of intermittent, 5-sec sustained isometric leg extension at 50% of initial maximum voluntary contraction. At termination, a final 5-sec maximum voluntary contraction was determined.

There were no significant differences within matched pairs for any measure.

Implication. "Greater fatigue resistance typically observed in women is probably due to differences in muscle mass. When matched for lean muscle mass, gender differences in strength and time to fatigue disappear. It is likely that a vascular occlusion at absolute workloads is similar in matched women and men, yielding the same demands for, and delivery of oxygen to the working muscle. Thus, there appear to be no intrinsic gender differences in muscle quality."

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