INTRODUCTION: A previous study revealed sport-specific differences in power-velocity-force profiling during trunk rotations at loads =10.5 kg [1]. The highest power is produced by combat sports athletes (boxing, thai boxing, karate, tae kwon do) with a maximum achieved at 10.5 kg, followed by water sports athletes (canoeing, kayaking) with a maximum at 20.0 kg, grappling sports athletes (judo, wrestling) with a maximum at 15.5 kg, and ball sports athletes (golf, hockey, tennis) with a maximum at 10.5 kg [1]. Since body rotations represent one of the essential elements of performance also in gymnasts and dancers, we were interested in whether between-gender differences exist in trunk rotational power at various loads. METHODS: Groups of female (n=24, age 20.1±1.7 y, height 168.5±6.8 cm, body mass 57.5±5.8 kg) and male (n=15, age 23.1±2.7 y, height 177.9±9.7 cm, body mass 78.3±11.2 kg) competitive gymnasts, aerobic, ballroom and rock & roll dancers completed two trials of standing trunk rotations at each side with a barbell of different weights (increasing from 1 kg up to a weight at which maximal values of power were achieved) placed on their shoulders. The power produced during trunk rotations was evaluated using the FiTRO Torso Premium. RESULTS: Mean power in the acceleration phase of trunk rotations was significantly higher in male than female athletes at loads of 10.5 kg (206.8±22.0 W and 165.4±17.8 W respectively, p=0.033), 15.5 kg (231.8±27.5 W and 155.6±24.4 W respectively, p=0.001) and 20 kg 196.9±25.3 W and 111.4±20.9 W respectively, p=0.001). Similar significant between-gender differences for angular velocity at weights =10.5 kg were observed. Alternatively, power and force were significantly higher at lower velocities in male than female athletes. However, some females were able to produce slightly greater power and force at higher velocities in spite of their lower values at lower velocities when compared to males. CONCLUSION: While the highest power in males is produced at a higher weight of 15.5 kg (in few of them at 20 kg), females are able to generate the highest power at a lower weight of 10.5 kg (or at higher velocities). This may be ascribed to both the genetic predispositions and the specificity of their acrobatic and dance elements including trunk rotations at various velocities under different load conditions. Male athletes need to exert high forces of upper and lower body in order to lift female counterparts and perform repetitive rotational movements of the trunk.
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