Effects of gender on physiological responses during submaximal exercise and recovery.

Purpose: This investigation was conducted to compare the physiological responses of men and women, both during and following an exercise bout at the same relative submaximal intensity.

Methods: Ten untrained men (20.7+/-0.5 yr, 178.4+/-2.3 cm, 79.6+/-4.8 kg; mean+/-SE) and 10 untrained women (20.3+/-0.3 yr, 163.8+/-2.2 cm, 59.5+/-2.1 kg) cycled for 30 min at 60-65% of their predetermined peak oxygen uptake. Physiological variables were measured before exercise, at 15 and 30 min of exercise, and at 5 and 15 min postexercise. For each variable of interest, a two-way repeated-measures of analysis was used to assess the main effects of gender and time, along with potential interactive effects.

Results: Our data revealed that for many variables including HR, relative HR (% peak value), mean arterial pressure, and rectal temperature, men and women responded similarly both during exercise and throughout the recovery period. In contrast, significant (P
Conclusion: During exercise of the same relative submaximal intensity, some physiological parameters responded likewise in young men and young women, whereas others did not. Among those variables that demonstrated significant gender-related differences, all but one (plasma lactate) were obscured within 5 min of postexercise recovery.