2014, Volume 6, Issue 3

Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge



Jonathan Kenneth Sinclair1, Lindsay Bottoms2

1Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, University of Central Lancashire
2School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London


Author for correspondence: Jonathan Kenneth Sinclair; Division of Sport Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, University of Central Lancashire; email: Jksinclair[at]uclan.ac.uk

DOI: 10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

Full text

Abstract

Background: Recent epidemiological analyses in fencing have shown that injuries and pain linked specifically to fencing training/competition were evident in 92.8% of fencers. Specifically the prevalence of Achilles tendon pathology has increased substantially in recent years, and males have been identified as being at greater risk of Achilles tendon injury compared to their female counterparts. This study aimed to examine gender differences in Achilles tendon loading during the fencing lunge.
Material/Methods: Achilles tendon load was obtained from eight male and eight female club level epee fencers using a 3D motion capture system and force platform information as they completed simulated lunges. Independent t-tests were performed on the data to determine whether differences existed.
Results: The results show that males were associated with significantly greater Achilles tendon loading rates in comparison to females.
Conclusions: This suggests that male fencers may be at greater risk from Achilles tendon pathology as a function of fencing training/ competition


Key words: fencing, injury, Achilles tendon


Cite this article as:

AMA:

Sinclair J, Bottoms L. Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge. Balt J Health Phys Activ. 2014;6(3). doi:10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

APA:

Sinclair, J.K., & Bottoms, L. (2014). Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

Chicago:

Sinclair, Jonathan Kenneth, Bottoms Lindsay. 2014. "Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge". Balt J Health Phys Activ 6 (3). doi:10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

Harvard:

Sinclair, J.K., and Bottoms, L. (2014). Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

MLA:

Sinclair, J.K., and Bottoms, L. "Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge." Balt J Health Phys Activ, vol. 6, no. 3, 2014. doi:10.2478/bjha-2014-0018

Vancouver:

Sinclair JK, Bottoms L. Gender differences in the Achilles tendon load during the fencing lunge. Balt J Health Phys Activ 2014; 6(3). Available from: doi:10.2478/bjha-2014-0018