Male and female basketball players are known to differ specifically with respect to their muscular force production characteristics (Hakkinen, K., 1991). Indeed, muscular force and skill are key elements in dunking a basketball. The fact that we see males dunk a basketball more often than females is a direct reflection of their muscular force. This study examines the maximum jump height needed to dunk a basketball, in males and females. Hence, this study is an attempt to answer the phenomenon that it is easier for males to dunk. Davies, et al. (1988), found one possibility might be that there is a difference in composition in male and female muscle with respect to fiber type. In addition, male and female sex hormones may influence the performance of skeletal muscle differently, so that for a given muscle mass the male and female would produce different strengths of contraction. Recognizing these gender differences is important in understanding that men are more capable of performing this skill on a daily basis.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the range of motion at the knee and hip joints as both a male and a female subject performs a basketball dunk. Because height can influence one's ability to perform a dunk, height has been chosen as the control variable. Examining the differences of each subject will help draw conclusions about this phenomenon that males are more physically capable.