Sex‐related differences in motor unit behavior are influenced by myosin heavy chain during high‐ but not moderate‐intensity contractions

Abstract

Both sexes exhibited an inverse relationship between MU firing rates and recruitment thresholds. However, the sex-related differences in MU recruitment and firing rate patterns and N-EMG_RMS at 70% MVC were likely due to greater type I% MHC and smaller twitch forces of the higher threshold MUs for the females. Evidence is provided that muscle fiber composition may explain divergent MU behavior between sexes.