Parsons, J. L., & Porter, M. M. (2014). Comparison of hip and knee neuromuscular power between young female and male athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(5), Supplement abstract number 2470.

Neuromuscular power may have a stronger influence on functional performance when compared to neuromuscular strength. Therefore, a deficit in neuromuscular power could have the potential to increase injury risk and/or decrease sport performance. Adult males show greater neuromuscular power than adult females; however gender differences in neuromuscular power have not been investigated in young athletes. Examining this variable in a young population may provide insight into appropriate development programs for young athletes.

This study determined if female (N = 26) and male (N = 26) athletes aged 10-14 years differ in hip flexion (HF) and knee extension (KE) peak power (PP) as measured with a Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. Ss were tested for hip power while standing and knee power while sitting at an angular velocity of 60°/sec. Peak power was calculated as the average peak power of five repetitions from each of two test sessions. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors significantly affecting the dependent variables. Those factors (age and body mass for hip-flexion peak power; age for knee-extension peak power) were then used as covariates within an Analysis of Covariance to explore gender differences in hip and knee neuromuscular power.

Female and male young athletes showed no statistically significant differences in hip flexion or knee extension peak power. Knee-extension peak power was greater than hip flexion peak power for both genders.

Implication. Early adolescent girls and boys do not differ in the peak neuromuscular power of the hip-flexor or knee-extensor muscle groups.

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