Bruckner, J, Archbald, C, Bell, A, Gross, J, Schuck, B; Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA and Widener University, Chester, PA. Janice.Bruckner@Widener.edu.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in movement patterns between men and women when performing tennis line drills. This study tested two hypotheses; 1) that men have longer step lengths than women and 2) that gender differences will be seen in motor planning as manifest in step variation. SUBJECTS: The study involved a convenient sample of 17 subjects, 9 men and 8 women, who were recruited by word of mouth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All subjects completed an informed consent and a tennis history form. Subjects had their legs measured and then had paper markers attached to bony landmarks on the pelvis and lower limbs. A basketball court was set up to replicate a tennis court. A camera was placed 16.4 meters from the center of the court and subjects were fed balls to their forehands and backhands for approximately three minutes. During this period, a 30-second digital video was made of each subject's performance. The video clips were then processed using SIMI MoStill software to establish step lengths for each subject. ANALYSES: Six step lengths, 3 forehand steps and 3 backhand steps, were used for each subject. Statistical analysis of these steps included t-tests, intraclass correlation coefficients, and coefficient of variations. RESULTS: Women had significantly smaller step lengths than the men even after leg length was standardized. Women also exhibited statistically greater variability in step length when compared to their male counterparts. These results support both hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS: The results may indicate that men and women differ in motor planning when performing tennis line drills and may provide insight into gender difference in motor performance and injury incidence. These results have considerable implications for training, coaching, and rehabilitation. Further study in this area is needed. FUNDING SOURCE: This was an unfunded study and none of the authors will derive material gain from this investigation.

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