Gender influence over stature variation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the gender influence over stature variation during quotidian tasks in order to help the understanding of factors related to the greatest low back pain incidence in women. Nineteen young subjects (12 women, 20.9 ± 1.1 years and 7 men, 20.3 ± 1.0 years) participated in the study. Menstrual cycle was controlled in an attempt to reduce possible hormonal cycle variation effects. Women's stature was controlled by means of a special stadiometer before, and after 20, 60,120 and 180 min during a quotidian task. Men and women showed different stature variations, where women lost height more rapidly and in greater magnitude than man.The differences found in the present study between genders may explain the greater prevalence of low back pain in women. Therefore, workloads must differ between genders, as women are more predisposed to more pronounced stature loss. Other studies between genders to analyze subjects' ability to recover from stature loss are required, as there is an association between back pain and recovery inability pointed in other studies.