|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
Mechanical work for step-to-step transitions is a major determinant of the metabolic cost of human walking
1 Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
94720-3140, USA
2 Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado,
Boulder, CO 80309-0354, USA
3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,
MI 48109-2125, USA
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: artkuo{at}umich.edu).
Accepted 13 August 2002
In the single stance phase of walking, center of mass motion resembles that of an inverted pendulum. Theoretically, mechanical work is not necessary for producing the pendular motion, but work is needed to redirect the center of mass velocity from one pendular arc to the next during the transition between steps. A collision model predicts a rate of negative work proportional to the fourth power of step length. Positive work is required to restore the energy lost, potentially exacting a proportional metabolic cost. We tested these predictions with humans (N=9) walking over a range of step lengths (0.4-1.1 m) while keeping step frequency fixed at 1.8 Hz. We measured individual limb external mechanical work using force plates, and metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry. As predicted, average negative and positive external mechanical work rates increased with the fourth power of step length (from 1 W to 38 W; r2=0.96). Metabolic rate also increased with the fourth power of step length (from 7 W to 379 W; r2=0.95), and linearly with mechanical work rate. Mechanical work for step-to-step transitions, rather than pendular motion itself, appears to be a major determinant of the metabolic cost of walking.
Key words: biomechanics, biped, energetics, locomotion, oxygen consumption, human
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  D. S. Reisman, K. S. Rudolph, and W. B. Farquhar Influence of Speed on Walking Economy Poststroke Neurorehabil Neural Repair, July 1, 2009; 23(6): 529 - 534. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. J. Arellano, D. P. O'Connor, C. Layne, and M. J. Kurz The independent effect of added mass on the stability of the sagittal plane leg kinematics during steady-state human walking J. Exp. Biol., June 15, 2009; 212(12): 1965 - 1970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.C. Dean and A.D. Kuo Elastic coupling of limb joints enables faster bipedal walking J R Soc Interface, June 6, 2009; 6(35): 561 - 573. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Peyrot, D. Thivel, L. Isacco, J.-B. Morin, P. Duche, and A. Belli Do mechanical gait parameters explain the higher metabolic cost of walking in obese adolescents? J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2009; 106(6): 1763 - 1770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. H Kahn and T G. Hornby Rapid and Long-term Adaptations in Gait Symmetry Following Unilateral Step Training in People With Hemiparesis Physical Therapy, May 1, 2009; 89(5): 474 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Sasaki, R. R. Neptune, and S. A. Kautz The relationships between muscle, external, internal and joint mechanical work during normal walking J. Exp. Biol., March 1, 2009; 212(5): 738 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. Sawicki and D. P. Ferris Powered ankle exoskeletons reveal the metabolic cost of plantar flexor mechanical work during walking with longer steps at constant step frequency J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2009; 212(1): 21 - 31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. Sawicki and D. P. Ferris Mechanics and energetics of incline walking with robotic ankle exoskeletons J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2009; 212(1): 32 - 41. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. E. Vereecke and P. Aerts The mechanics of the gibbon foot and its potential for elastic energy storage during bipedalism J. Exp. Biol., December 1, 2008; 211(23): 3661 - 3670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Usherwood, K. L. Szymanek, and M. A. Daley Compass gait mechanics account for top walking speeds in ducks and humans J. Exp. Biol., December 1, 2008; 211(23): 3744 - 3749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D.G.E. Hobbelen and M. Wisse Controlling the Walking Speed in Limit Cycle Walking The International Journal of Robotics Research, September 1, 2008; 27(9): 989 - 1005. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. Sawicki and D. P. Ferris Mechanics and energetics of level walking with powered ankle exoskeletons J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2008; 211(9): 1402 - 1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. P. J. Teunissen, A. Grabowski, and R. Kram Effects of independently altering body weight and body mass on the metabolic cost of running J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2007; 210(24): 4418 - 4427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. R. Umberger and P. E. Martin Mechanical power and efficiency of level walking with different stride rates J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2007; 210(18): 3255 - 3265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. P. Kabat, R. A. Phillips, J. P. Croxall, and P. J. Butler Differences in metabolic costs of terrestrial mobility in two closely related species of albatross J. Exp. Biol., August 15, 2007; 210(16): 2851 - 2858. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Ortega and C. T. Farley Individual limb work does not explain the greater metabolic cost of walking in elderly adults J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2007; 102(6): 2266 - 2273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Pontzer Predicting the energy cost of terrestrial locomotion: a test of the LiMb model in humans and quadrupeds J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2007; 210(3): 484 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram Mechanical energy fluctuations during hill walking: the effects of slope on inverted pendulum exchange J. Exp. Biol., December 15, 2006; 209(24): 4895 - 4900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. G. Adamczyk, S. H. Collins, and A. D. Kuo The advantages of a rolling foot in human walking J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2006; 209(20): 3953 - 3963. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. P. McGowan, H. A. Duarte, J. B. Main, and A. A. Biewener Effects of load carrying on metabolic cost and hindlimb muscle dynamics in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2006; 101(4): 1060 - 1069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Marsh, D. J. Ellerby, H. T. Henry, and J. Rubenson The energetic costs of trunk and distal-limb loading during walking and running in guinea fowl Numida meleagris: I. Organismal metabolism and biomechanics J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2006; 209(11): 2050 - 2063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Raichlen Effects of limb mass distribution on mechanical power outputs during quadrupedalism J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2006; 209(4): 633 - 644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. C. Browning, E. A. Baker, J. A. Herron, and R. Kram Effects of obesity and sex on the energetic cost and preferred speed of walking J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2006; 100(2): 390 - 398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Ortega and C. T. Farley Minimizing center of mass vertical movement increases metabolic cost in walking J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2005; 99(6): 2099 - 2107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. C. Rome, L. Flynn, E. M. Goldman, and T. D. Yoo Generating Electricity While Walking with Loads Science, September 9, 2005; 309(5741): 1725 - 1728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Gottschall and R. Kram Energy cost and muscular activity required for leg swing during walking J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2005; 99(1): 23 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Pontzer A new model predicting locomotor cost from limb length via force production J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2005; 208(8): 1513 - 1524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. A. Bertram Constrained optimization in human walking: cost minimization and gait plasticity J. Exp. Biol., March 15, 2005; 208(6): 979 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Collins, A. Ruina, R. Tedrake, and M. Wisse Efficient Bipedal Robots Based on Passive-Dynamic Walkers Science, February 18, 2005; 307(5712): 1082 - 1085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Grabowski, C. T. Farley, and R. Kram Independent metabolic costs of supporting body weight and accelerating body mass during walking J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2005; 98(2): 579 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Doke, J. M. Donelan, and A. D. Kuo Mechanics and energetics of swinging the human leg J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2005; 208(3): 439 - 445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. M. Griffin, R. P. Main, and C. T. Farley Biomechanics of quadrupedal walking: how do four-legged animals achieve inverted pendulum-like movements? J. Exp. Biol., September 15, 2004; 207(20): 3545 - 3558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. J. Bastien, N. C. Heglund, and B. Schepens The double contact phase in walking children J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2003; 206(17): 2967 - 2978. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. M. Griffin, T. J. Roberts, and R. Kram Metabolic cost of generating muscular force in human walking: insights from load-carrying and speed experiments J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2003; 95(1): 172 - 183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
