Maturation leads to gender differences in landing force and vertical jump performance: a longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Pediatric Sports Science

Background:

• Female athletes experience a higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures post-puberty.
• Understanding maturational changes in neuromuscular control is crucial for injury prevention in adolescent athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate longitudinal gender differences in vertical jump performance and ground-reaction forces during maturation.
• To compare changes in landing mechanics and loading rates between male and female adolescent athletes over two years.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study (Level 2 evidence) involving 16 female and 17 male pubertal/postpubertal athletes.
• Measurement of vertical jump height and ground-reaction forces during a drop vertical jump over two consecutive years.
• Statistical analysis using mixed-design ANOVA with post hoc paired t-tests to compare within- and between-gender changes.

Main Results:

• Male athletes exhibited significant increases in vertical jump height and reduced landing forces with maturation.
• Female athletes did not show significant improvements in jump height; their takeoff force decreased, and landing forces remained unchanged.
• Both genders demonstrated decreased loading rates, but female athletes consistently had higher loading rates than males.

Conclusions:

• Male athletes undergo a pubertal neuromuscular spurt, enhancing jump performance and landing force absorption.
• The lack of similar neuromuscular adaptations in female athletes may contribute to their elevated risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
• Findings highlight critical gender-specific differences in athletic development and injury risk during adolescence.