Movement Science Program, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
J Physiol. 2024 Sep;602(17):4129-4156. doi: 10.1113/JP284198. Epub 2024 Aug 6.
Sex as a biological variable is an underappreciated aspect of biomedical research, with its importance emerging in more recent years. This review assesses the current understanding of sex differences in human physical performance. Males outperform females in many physical capacities because they are faster, stronger and more powerful, particularly after male puberty. This review highlights key sex differences in physiological and anatomical systems (generally conferred via sex steroids and puberty) that contribute to these sex differences in human physical performance. Specifically, we address the effects of the primary sex steroids that affect human physical development, discuss insight gained from an observational study of 'real-world data' and elite athletes, and highlight the key physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in several aspects of physical performance. Physiological mechanisms discussed include those for the varying magnitude of the sex differences in performance involving: (1) absolute muscular strength and power; (2) fatigability of limb muscles as a measure of relative performance; and (3) maximal aerobic power and endurance. The profound sex-based differences in human performance involving strength, power, speed and endurance, and that are largely attributable to the direct and indirect effects of sex-steroid hormones, sex chromosomes and epigenetics, provide a scientific rationale and framework for policy decisions on sex-based categories in sports during puberty and adulthood. Finally, we highlight the sex bias and problem in human performance research of insufficient studies and information on females across many areas of biology and physiology, creating knowledge gaps and opportunities for high-impact studies.
性别作为一个生物学变量，是生物医学研究中一个尚未得到充分重视的方面，其重要性在近年来才逐渐显现。本综述评估了目前对人类身体表现中性别差异的理解。由于男性在速度、力量和功率方面表现更优，尤其是在男性青春期之后，因此在许多身体能力方面男性优于女性。本综述强调了在生理和解剖系统中存在的关键性别差异（通常通过性激素和青春期来赋予），这些差异导致了人类身体表现中的性别差异。具体而言，我们探讨了影响人类身体发育的主要性激素的作用，讨论了从“真实世界数据”和精英运动员的观察研究中获得的见解，并强调了导致身体表现几个方面存在性别差异的关键生理机制。讨论的生理机制包括：（1）表现出的绝对肌肉力量和功率的性别差异幅度；（2）作为相对表现衡量的四肢肌肉疲劳性；以及（3）最大有氧能力和耐力的性别差异。人类表现中存在着巨大的性别差异，涉及力量、功率、速度和耐力，这些差异主要归因于性激素、性染色体和表观遗传学的直接和间接影响，为青春期和成年期体育比赛中基于性别的分类提供了科学依据和政策决策框架。最后，我们强调了在许多生物学和生理学领域中，女性在人类表现研究中存在研究不足和信息不足的性别偏见和问题，这造成了知识差距和开展高影响力研究的机会。
