Researchers Use ‘Avatar’ Experiments to Get Leg Up on Locomotion
Simple mechanical descriptions of the way people and animals walk, run, jump and hop liken whole leg behavior to a spring or pogo stick. (more…)
Tag Archives: human locomotion
Hips Take Walking in Stride; Ankles Put Best Foot Forward in Run
In a first-of-its-kind study comparing human walking and running motions – and whether the hips, knees or ankles are the most important power sources for these motions – researchers at North Carolina State University show that the hips generate more of the power when people walk, but the ankles generate more of the power when humans run. Knees provide approximately one-fifth or less of walking or running power. (more…)
MU, ASU Researchers’ Discovery Could Change Views of Human Evolution
3.2 million-year-old human predecessor had arches in feet
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Feet arches give humans a spring in their steps, shock absorbing abilities, and stiff platforms to propel themselves forward, allowing them to walk upright consistently. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri and Arizona State University have found proof that arches existed in a predecessor to the human species that lived more than 3 million years ago. This discovery could change scientists’ views of human evolution. The study is being published this week in Science. (more…)