Jackson Lordall , Sunny Bui , Alexa Koupantsis , Topaza Yu , Joel L. Lanovaz , Erin J. Prosser-Loose , Todd G. Morrison , Alison R. Oates
{"title":"A scoping review on the current state of sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) in standing balance research","authors":"Jackson Lordall , Sunny Bui , Alexa Koupantsis , Topaza Yu , Joel L. Lanovaz , Erin J. Prosser-Loose , Todd G. Morrison , Alison R. Oates","doi":"10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Understanding sex and gender differences in standing balance is challenged by varied use of terminology and definitions. In addition, the use of sex- and gender-based analyses (SGBA) in standing balance research is unknown. This scoping review examined the frequency and type of SGBA, and the use of sex- and gender-based terminology in standing balance research published in the year 2020.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Eight databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that quantitatively measured standing balance in adult humans using a biomechanical construct and were published in 2020. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and extracted data with a third reviewer resolving conflicts. In accordance with sex and gender equity in research (SAGER) guidelines, data extraction focused on participant demographics, inclusion and type of SGBA, consistency of sex and gender terminology, alignment with operational definitions (e.g., female used to describe sex), and sex and gender data collection methods. Absolute and relative values across all articles and within collaboratively created categories of participant groups were calculated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 366 articles in the analysis, 20 % included sex and/or gender in the statistical analyses of which 50 % conducted SGBA. Consistent terminology aligned with this study’s definitions of sex and gender was found in 12 % of all articles, whereas 40 % used labels consistently without assigning them to sex or gender, ∼20 % used inconsistent or unaligned terminology, and 7 % did not report sex or gender. No articles included more than two options for sex or gender, and very few included self-reporting by participants (3 % for sex, 1 % for gender) or clearly described how sex (3 %) or gender (1 %) data were collected.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Small changes to the collection and reporting of sex and gender, and more SGBA in standing balance research could drastically improve the inclusivity and accuracy of standing balance assessment in research and clinical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12496,"journal":{"name":"Gait & posture","volume":"119 ","pages":"Pages 150-156"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Gait & posture","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636225001249","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Understanding sex and gender differences in standing balance is challenged by varied use of terminology and definitions. In addition, the use of sex- and gender-based analyses (SGBA) in standing balance research is unknown. This scoping review examined the frequency and type of SGBA, and the use of sex- and gender-based terminology in standing balance research published in the year 2020.
Methods
Eight databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that quantitatively measured standing balance in adult humans using a biomechanical construct and were published in 2020. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and extracted data with a third reviewer resolving conflicts. In accordance with sex and gender equity in research (SAGER) guidelines, data extraction focused on participant demographics, inclusion and type of SGBA, consistency of sex and gender terminology, alignment with operational definitions (e.g., female used to describe sex), and sex and gender data collection methods. Absolute and relative values across all articles and within collaboratively created categories of participant groups were calculated.
Results
Of the 366 articles in the analysis, 20 % included sex and/or gender in the statistical analyses of which 50 % conducted SGBA. Consistent terminology aligned with this study’s definitions of sex and gender was found in 12 % of all articles, whereas 40 % used labels consistently without assigning them to sex or gender, ∼20 % used inconsistent or unaligned terminology, and 7 % did not report sex or gender. No articles included more than two options for sex or gender, and very few included self-reporting by participants (3 % for sex, 1 % for gender) or clearly described how sex (3 %) or gender (1 %) data were collected.
Conclusions
Small changes to the collection and reporting of sex and gender, and more SGBA in standing balance research could drastically improve the inclusivity and accuracy of standing balance assessment in research and clinical settings.
期刊介绍:
Gait & Posture is a vehicle for the publication of up-to-date basic and clinical research on all aspects of locomotion and balance.
The topics covered include: Techniques for the measurement of gait and posture, and the standardization of results presentation; Studies of normal and pathological gait; Treatment of gait and postural abnormalities; Biomechanical and theoretical approaches to gait and posture; Mathematical models of joint and muscle mechanics; Neurological and musculoskeletal function in gait and posture; The evolution of upright posture and bipedal locomotion; Adaptations of carrying loads, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs etc; spinal biomechanics only if they are directly related to gait and/or posture and are of general interest to our readers; The effect of aging and development on gait and posture; Psychological and cultural aspects of gait; Patient education.