In a world where women athletes and other women that are becoming empowered
through exercise are tremendously on the raise there is still physiological differences that set
them apart from the opposite sex. In the case of Mickey and Minnie who are training with the
same program but receiving different results is due to their physiological, muscular, and
cardiovascular systems differences. At birth all the way up until puberty a boy and girl can
perform similar things when it comes to the muscles. Albeit, in some cases where girls might
perform better in sports than a boy due to females experiencing puberty first but this all changes
once puberty takes place in a boy. When a boy experiences puberty their muscle mass increases
in response to the hormone testosterone being produced in larger amounts (Liberty University,
Strength & Cardiovascular Differences, 2017). In comparison, when a girl experiences puberty
rather than muscle mass increasing they experience a raise in fat mass. Ultimately, due to the
body composition differences that take place in a male and female during puberty a male will be
able to carry more muscle in the upper body than a female and be able to have more mass
functionality when it comes to physical performance (Liberty University, Strength &
Cardiovascular Differences, 2017). Whereas, since females produce a hormone called estrogen
this increases the production of lipoprotein lipase in the hips and thighs in which these LPL can
become trapped due to a decrease in lipolytic activity where these fat cells are stored making it
extremely difficult for women to lose weight in these areas (Liberty University, Strength &
Cardiovascular Differences, 2017). Research has shown that when untrained men and women are
compared for absolute strength men were shown to be stronger due to men being 50% stronger
than women in the upper body and only 30% stronger in the lower body (Powers & Howley,
2015, p.487).
In the case of the fraternal twins Mickey and Minnie the reason Mickey is performing at a
higher level than Minnie even though both have been through the same training is due to the
relationship between body fat percentage and muscle mass. When it comes to putting in work
and exercise there is no difference in how the muscle fibers contract and the motor control but
rather the difference lays in the cross-sectional areas. For a female these areas are smaller than a
male even though the capillarization are similar (Liberty University, Strength & Cardiovascular
Differences, 2017). The concept of more muscle mass has been discussed previously but plays a
huge role in why Mickey can bench and leg press more weight than Minnie. Ultimately, having
more muscle mass is important but what is even more vital is where this muscle mass is
distributed and located. In addition, women have a smaller size frame that results from having
lower testosterone levels. Males tend to have more muscle mass in the upper bodies which is
where they carry their strength. Whereas for females they tend to be stronger in the lower body
than the upper body due to having more muscle mass in that area. Albeit, males still have more
muscle in their lower body than a female and will be stronger and put forth greater force
production when expressed in “absolute terms” (Liberty University, Strength & Cardiovascular
Differences, 2017)! According to Powers & Howley (2015), “It is believed that men produce and
create a higher degree of muscular hypertrophy when compared to women during an extended
period of training” (p.488).
Now when it comes to Mickey finishing the 5km race in a faster time than Minnie this is
due from there being a difference in cardiovascular responses between males and females.
“Females have a higher heart rate response for the same absolute levels of submaximal exercise,
the same HRmax and Cardiac Output at the same absolute submaximal levels as males, lower SV
at rest and at all exercise intensities” (Liberty University, Strength & Cardiovascular Differences,
2017). These cardiovascular responses in women are due to them having a smaller heart size and
a smaller left ventricle, less blood volume, lower hemoglobin content, and because they are less
likely to increase a vO2 difference (Liberty University, Strength & Cardiovascular Differences,
2017). Essentially these differences play a major role in how females perform and their aerobic
abilities in which males tend to have higher aerobic abilities and VO2max. Ultimately, during
resistance training women tend to lift more for “muscular endurance” whereas males lift more
for “muscular strength” (Liberty University, Strength & Cardiovascular Differences, 2017)
References
Liberty University. (2017). Strength and Cardiovascular Differences.
https://learn.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-18342645-dt-content-rid-
166962134_1/courses/EXSC510_B02_201740/EXSC510_Presentations/Module7_Streng
th_and_Cardiovascular_Differences%20%28LMS%29/res/html5.html
Powers, S.,Howley,E. (2015). Exercise physiology: theory and application to fitness and
performance. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Victoria Smith
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