|
| |
|
|
|
|
||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | ||||
Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 97, Issue 1 41-56, Copyright © 1982 by Company of Biologists
JOURNAL ARTICLES |
NC Heglund, GA Cavagna and CR Taylor
This is the third in a series of four papers examining the link between the energetics and mechanics of terrestrial locomotion. It reports measurements of the mechanical work required (ECM, tot) to lift and reaccelerate an animal's centre of mass within each step as a function of speed and body size during level, constant average speed locomotion. A force platform was used in this study to measure ECM, tot for small bipeds, quadrupeds and hoppers. We have already published similar data from large animals. The total power required to lift and reaccelerate the centre of mass (ECM, tot) increased nearly linearly with speed for all the animals. Expressed in mass-specific terms, it was independent of body size and could be expressed by a simple equation: ECM, tot/Mb = 0.685 vg + 0.072 where ECM, tot/Mb has the units of W kg-1 and vg is speed in m s-1. Walking involves the same pendulum-like mechanism in small animals as has been described in humans and large animals. Also, running, trotting and hopping produce similar curves of ECM, tot as a function of time during a stride for both the small and large animals. Galloping, however, appears to be different in small and large animals. In small animals the front legs are used mainly for braking, while the back legs are used to reaccelerate the centre of mass within a stride. In large animals the front and hind legs serve to both brake and reaccelerate the animal; this difference in mechanics is significant in that it does not allow the utilization of elastic energy in the legs of small animals, but does in the legs of large animals.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. J. Parsons, T. Pfau, and A. M. Wilson High-speed gallop locomotion in the Thoroughbred racehorse. I. The effect of incline on stride parameters J. Exp. Biol., March 15, 2008; 211(6): 935 - 944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. V. Kharlamova, L. N. Trut, D. R. Carrier, K. Chase, and K. G. Lark Genetic regulation of canine skeletal traits: trade-offs between the hind limbs and forelimbs in the fox and dog Integr. Comp. Biol., September 1, 2007; 47(3): 373 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Hutchinson, D. Schwerda, D. J. Famini, R. H. I. Dale, M. S. Fischer, and R. Kram The locomotor kinematics of Asian and African elephants: changes with speed and size J. Exp. Biol., October 1, 2006; 209(19): 3812 - 3827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Cappellini, Y. P. Ivanenko, R. E. Poppele, and F. Lacquaniti Motor Patterns in Human Walking and Running J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2006; 95(6): 3426 - 3437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. J. Chen, A. M. Peattie, K. Autumn, and R. J. Full Differential leg function in a sprawled-posture quadrupedal trotter J. Exp. Biol., January 15, 2006; 209(2): 249 - 259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. Daley, J. R. Usherwood, G. Felix, and A. A. Biewener Running over rough terrain: guinea fowl maintain dynamic stability despite a large unexpected change in substrate height J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2006; 209(1): 171 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. P. Ivanenko, N. Dominici, G. Cappellini, B. Dan, G. Cheron, and F. Lacquaniti Development of pendulum mechanism and kinematic coordination from the first unsupported steps in toddlers J. Exp. Biol., October 1, 2004; 207(21): 3797 - 3810. [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]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Schmitt Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2003; 206(9): 1437 - 1448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. T. Sensenig and J. W. Shultz Mechanics of cuticular elastic energy storage in leg joints lacking extensor muscles in arachnids J. Exp. Biol., February 15, 2003; 206(4): 771 - 784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M Verstappen, P Aerts, and R Van Damme Terrestrial locomotion in the black-billed magpie: kinematic analysis of walking, running and out-of-phase hopping J. Exp. Biol., January 7, 2000; 203(14): 2159 - 2170. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Minetti, L. ArdigO, E Reinach, and F Saibene The relationship between mechanical work and energy expenditure of locomotion in horses J. Exp. Biol., January 9, 1999; 202(17): 2329 - 2338. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. T. Farley, H. H. P. Houdijk, C. Van Strien, and M. Louie Mechanism of leg stiffness adjustment for hopping on surfaces of different stiffnesses J Appl Physiol, September 1, 1998; 85(3): 1044 - 1055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
