Gender Dfferences in Ground Reaction Force Components

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in ground reaction force (GRF) components among different speeds of running. Method: Twenty men ($age=22.4{\pm}1.6years$, $mass=73.4{\pm}8.4kg$, $height=176.2{\pm}5.6cm$) and twenty women ($age=20.7{\pm}1.2years$, $mass=55.0{\pm}8.2kg$, $height=163.9{\pm}5.3cm$) participated in this study. All participants were asked to run on an instrumented dual belt treadmill (Bertec, USA) at 8, 12, and 16 km/h for 3 min, after warming up. GRF data were collected from 30 strides while they were running. Hypotheses were tested using one-way ANOVA, and level of significance was set at p-value <.05. Results: The time to passive peaks was significantly earlier in women than in men at three different running speeds (p<.05). Further, the impact loading rates were significantly greater in women than in men at three different running speeds (p<.05). Moreover, the propulsive peak at 8 km/h, which is the slowest running speed, was significantly greater in women than in men (p<.05), and the vertical impulse at 16 km/h, which is the fastest running speed, was significantly greater in men than in women (p<.05). The absolute anteroposterior impulse at 8 km/h was significantly greater in women than in men (p<.05). In addition, as the running speed increased, impact peak, active peak, impact loading rate, breaking peak, propulsive peak, and anteroposterior impulse were significantly increased, but vertical impulse was significantly decreased (p<.05). Conclusion: The impact loading rate is greater in women than in men regardless of different running speeds. Therefore, female runners might be exposed to the risk of potential injuries related to the bone and ligament. Moreover, increased running speeds could lead to higher possibility of running injuries.