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 (cm
2
)
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