Sports Med 2009;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 1. General Physiological Sex Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258 1.1 Morphology and Body Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 1.2 Endocrine Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 1.3 Enzyme Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 1.4 Substrate Utilization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 1.5 Muscle Fibre Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 1.6 Neural Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261 1.7 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 2. Sex Differences in Sprint-Induced Muscle Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 2.1 Single-Sprint Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 2.1.1 Determinants of Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 2.1.2 Fatigue during Single-Sprint Exercise in Males and Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 2.2 Multiple-Sprint Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 2.2.1 Determinants of Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 2.2.2 Fatigue during Multiple-Sprint Exercise in Males and Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 3. Sex Differences in Physiological Responses to Sprint Exercise Reanalysed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 3.1 Methodological Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 3.2 Influence of Total Mechanical Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 4. Summary and Future Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Abstract Females have often been reported to have a greater muscle fatigue re-Females have often been reported to have a greater muscle fatigue resistance than males, especially during exercise at low-to-moderate intensities. Differences in muscle mass, muscle metabolism and voluntary activation patterns have been the primary explanations for the differences in performance and physiological responses to exercise between sexes. However, while ample data are available for isometric contractions, dynamic activity is a less studied mode of exercise, and there is even less information regarding multiple-sprint exercise (MSE). This is surprising given that MSE places unique demands on metabolic processes in the muscle where energy supply oscillates between fuelling contractile activity and restoring homeostasis. As such, MSE provides a rich area for future applied research. This review examines the limited data available concerning the physiological responses of males and females to sprint exercise, and discusses the methodological confounds arising from non-appropriate comparison methods. Based on original findings, REVIEW ARTICLE Sports Med 2009; 39 (4): 257-278 0112-1642/09/0004-0257/$49.95/0 a 2009 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.