Male-Female Differences in Push-up Test Performance at Various Cadences

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Human Performance
• Biomechanical Analysis

Background:

• Push-up (PU) testing is a common measure of upper-extremity muscular endurance.
• Limited research exists on how varying cadences affect PU test outcomes.
• Understanding sex-based differences in PU performance and strategy is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate male-female differences in push-up performance across various cadences.
• To analyze the influence of cadence on vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) during push-ups.
• To identify potential sex-specific strategies employed during push-up testing.

Main Methods:

• Forty-four healthy adults (men and women) completed four push-up test sessions.
• Tests were conducted at fixed cadences (30, 45, 60 PUs·min⁻¹) and a self-selected (SS) cadence.
• Total PUs, vGRFs at hands and feet, and sum of vGRFs were recorded.

Main Results:

• Men completed more PUs than women at all tested cadences (p ≤ 0.05).
• Peak PU performance occurred at the SS or 60 PUs·min⁻¹ cadence.
• Men exhibited a faster SS cadence and shifted more weight to hands at higher cadences compared to women.

Conclusions:

• Significant sex-based differences exist in push-up test performance and biomechanical strategies.
• Cadence and force distribution vary between men and women during push-ups.
• These findings necessitate consideration of sex-specific factors when designing push-up testing protocols.