Male and female runners have dynamically similar stride parameters but different joint kinematics

Previous comparisons of running technique between males and females have produced conflicting results, possibly because performance standard was not controlled. The aim of this study was to compare the techniques of large performance-matched groups of male and female runners. Groups of 57 male and 57 female runners were matched for sex-specific performance standard. Comparisons were made in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>peak; and in running economy, discrete spatiotemporal gait parameters, and joint kinematics time series whilst running at 11 km.h^-1. The absolute performance of the males was 13.6% faster than the females and their <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>peak was 13% higher, however they had similar relative performance standards, running economies, duty factors, and stride lengths and frequencies when these were scaled to the square root of stature. Female runners displayed more hip adduction, less knee adduction, and more ankle abduction during stance, and a larger range of axial rotation of the torso over the gait cycle. Performance differences between the sexes were likely due to differences in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover><mml:mi>V</mml:mi><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>peak and not running technique. Larger frontal plane motions exhibited by female runners were consistent with the injury types and frequencies they suffer and should be considered when designing training protocols or footwear to reduce injury risk.