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Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics

Published on: December 14, 2011

Sex Differences in Durability Following Heavy Intensity Cycling Exercise in Trained Athletes.

Elisa Pastorio¹, Padraig Spillane¹, Emma Squires¹

¹Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

|April 9, 2026

Summary

Females exhibit greater durability in prolonged cycling, showing smaller declines in physiological thresholds. These findings suggest sex-specific training and pacing strategies are crucial for optimizing endurance performance.

Keywords:

exercise fatigue female male performance resilience

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Area of Science:

Exercise Physiology
Sports Science
Sex Differences in Sport

Background:

Durability, the capacity to resist physiological impairments during prolonged exercise, is key for cycling performance.
While females may possess inherent physiological advantages for durability, sex-based differences remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate potential sex differences in physiological durability during prolonged, heavy-intensity cycling.
To compare the impact of sustained exercise on submaximal thresholds, neuromuscular function, and metabolic responses between males and females.

Main Methods:

Sixteen males and 16 females completed incremental exercise tests and a 90-minute heavy-intensity cycling bout.
Physiological variables including V̇O2peak, heart rate, gas exchange, neuromuscular function (MVIC, VA), and blood lactate were measured.
Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to assess muscle oxygenation during exercise.

Main Results:

Females demonstrated smaller reductions in the power output at the gas exchange threshold and respiratory compensation point compared to males.
Despite similar decreases in peak oxygen uptake, females showed less impairment in oxidative efficiency and greater muscle oxygen extraction.
While neuromuscular function declined similarly in both sexes, males exhibited higher heart rate, V̇O2, and blood lactate levels during the heavy-intensity bout.

Conclusions:

Females exhibit enhanced durability during prolonged heavy-intensity cycling, indicated by better maintenance of submaximal exercise thresholds and oxidative efficiency.
These sex-specific differences highlight the importance of considering tailored training prescriptions and pacing strategies for male and female cyclists.
Further research into sex-based physiological responses can optimize athletic performance and training methodologies.