The mechanics and energetics of human walking and running: a joint level perspective

Farris, Dominic James and Sawicki, Gregory S. (2012) The mechanics and energetics of human walking and running: a joint level perspective. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 9 66: 110-118. doi:10.1098/rsif.2011.0182


Author Farris, Dominic James
Sawicki, Gregory S.
Title The mechanics and energetics of human walking and running: a joint level perspective
Journal name Journal of the Royal Society Interface   Check publisher's open access policy
ISSN 1742-5689
1742-5662
Publication date 2012-01-01
Sub-type Article (original research)
DOI 10.1098/rsif.2011.0182
Open Access Status Not yet assessed
Volume 9
Issue 66
Start page 110
End page 118
Total pages 9
Place of publication London, United Kingdom
Publisher Royal Society Publishing
Language eng
Abstract Humans walk and run at a range of speeds. While steady locomotion at a given speed requires no net mechanical work, moving faster does demand both more positive and negative mechanical work per stride. Is this increased demand met by increasing power output at all lower limb joints or just some of them? Does running rely on different joints for power output than walking? How does this contribute to the metabolic cost of locomotion? This study examined the effects of walking and running speed on lower limb joint mechanics and metabolic cost of transport in humans. Kinematic and kinetic data for 10 participants were collected for a range of walking (0.75, 1.25, 1.75, 2.0 ms -1) and running (2.0, 2.25, 2.75, 3.25 ms -1) speeds. Net metabolic power was measured by indirect calorimetry. Within each gait, there was no difference in the proportion of power contributed by each joint (hip, knee, ankle) to total power across speeds. Changing from walking to running resulted in a significant ( p = 0.02) shift in power production from the hip to the ankle which may explain the higher efficiency of running at speeds above 2.0 ms -1 and shed light on a potential mechanism behind the walk-run transition.
Keyword Locomotion
Speed
Mechanical power
Efficiency
Cost of transport
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article (original research)
Collections: Non HERDC
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences Publications
 
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Created: Thu, 04 Jul 2013, 00:18:47 EST by Dominic James Farris on behalf of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences