Table 2.
Gender and bilateral differences in dominant and non-dominant limb architecture. Data are means (±SD).
| Rectus Femoris | Vastus Lateralis | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOM | ND | %DIFF | DOM | ND | %DIFF | ||
| Muscle Thickness (cm) | Men | 2.9 (.3 | 2.9 ± 0.3) | 1.8 (1.5) | 1.9 (.4) | 1.9 (.4) | 1.9 (1.5) |
| Women | 2.4 (.2) * | 2.4 (.3) * | 1.1 (1.5) | 1.8 (.3) | 1.8 (.4) | 4.2 (4.1) | |
| Pennation Angle (°) | Men | 16.4 (3.4) | 15.5 (3.0) | 3.9 (2.7) | 13.6 (3.0) | 14.3 (2.3) | 4.8 (4.8) |
| Women | 15.4 (2.3) | 16.4 (2.4) | 4.3 (2.8) | 12.6 (3.4) | 12.2 (2.8) * | 3.8 (3.5) | |
| Fascicle Length (cm) | Men | 10.8 (3.2) | 11.4 (2.5) | 4.1 (3.5) | 8.4 (1.9) | 7.9 (1.7) | 6.0 (4.6) |
| Women | 9.2 (1.4) | 8.7 (1.9) * | 4.7 (3.4) | 8.9 (3.0) | 8.8 (3.1) | 7.6 (5.9) | |
| Cross-Sectional Area (cm2) | Men | 19.9 (5.0) | 20.0 (3.3) | 2.9 (2.5) | 39.8 (7.3) † | 37.0 (8.1) | 2.0 (2.3) |
| Women | 14.0 (2.7) * | 13.7 (3.0) * | 2.7 (2.1) | 27.1 (3.7) * | 23.8 (3.8) * | 3.3 (3.0) | |
| Echo Intensity (au) | Men | 58.0 (8.7) | 55.9 (8.3) | 2.4 (1.5) | 60.4 (12.6) | 62.4 (10.9) | 2.2 (1.6) |
| Women | 65.8 (11.9) | 66.0 (7.3) * | 1.8 (2.4) | 71.2 (12.8) * | 72.9 (8.5) * | 2.5 (1.9) | |
*Significantly (p < 0.05) different from men.
† Significantly (p < 0.05) different from the non-dominant leg.
‡ DOM = Dominant Limb; ND = Non-Dominant Limb; %DIFF = Absolute percent difference between limbs