Kinaesthetic sensitivity of adolescent male and female athletes and non-athletes.

Abstract

Comparisons were made between nineteen ballet dancers/gymnasts, twenty basketballers, and twenty non-athletes (mean age 16.19 years) in terms of their kinaesthetic sensitivity to passive upper arm movement. The measurement instrument used was the Kinaesthetic Sensitivity Test developed by Laszlo and Bairstow (1985a). The results showed that kinaesthetic sensitivity did not differ across groups, although there was evidence of some difference between males and females. These results are in conflict with previous studies (Bairstow & Laszlo, 1981; Laszlo & Bairstow, 1980). The data suggest the need for research on kinaesthetic sensitivity to provide normative adolescent data, to further examine sex differences, and to investigate differences between athletes of differing levels.