Muscle Mass and Strength
Van den Tillar and Ettema (2004) found that overarm throwing strength was related to size (measured as fat free body mass: FFM), and not gender, in a group of experienced handball players. In an obese sample, Lafortuna et al (2005) failed to find a gender component to strength differences, although they noted that women tended to develop more fat mass compared to obese men, who developed fat mass and fat free mass at similar rates. Lindle et al (1997) also found no gender effect in strength when controlling for size, but did find a greater retention of strength in older women, a phenomenon discussed previously in "Age and Muscle" (3/26/2007).
These studies demonstrate what should be obvious: strength is an issue of muscle, not gender. While women tend to have less muscle mass than men, and strength differences are generally valid to the total populations of men and women have been documented (see "Upper Body Strength" 11/29/2006), this means little for any given man and woman. FFM is a better predictor of strength than gender.
These studies demonstrate what should be obvious: strength is an issue of muscle, not gender. While women tend to have less muscle mass than men, and strength differences are generally valid to the total populations of men and women have been documented (see "Upper Body Strength" 11/29/2006), this means little for any given man and woman. FFM is a better predictor of strength than gender.