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Messages adaptations for BP walking
adaptations for BP walking
Marc VerhaegenMay 27
Adaptations for bipedal walking:
Musculoskeletal structure and three-dimensional joint mechanics of humans and bipedal chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Matthew C O'Neill, Brigitte Demes, Nathan E Thompson & Brian R Umberger 2022
J.hum.Evol.168:103195 doi 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103195
Hs are unique among apes & other primates in the musculo-skeletal design of their lower back, pelvis & lower limbs.
Here, we describe the 3D ground reaction forces & lower/hindlimb joint mechanics of human & BP chimps walking over a full stride:
1) is the estimated limb joint work & power during the stance phase (esp. the single-support period) lower in Hs than BP chimps?
2) is the limb joint work & power required for limb swing lower in Hs than in BP chimps?
3) is the estimated total mechanical power during walking, accounting for the storage of passive elastic strain energy in Hs, lower in Hs than in BP chimp?
Hs & BP chimps were compared at matched dimensionless & dimensional velocities.
Our results:
Hs walk with significantly less work & power output in the 1st double-support period & the single-support period of stance,
but Hs markedly exceed chimps in the 2nd double-support period (push-off).
Hs generate less work & power in limb swing, although the species difference in limb swing power was not statistically significant.
We estimated:
total mechanical positive ‘muscle fiber’ work & power were 46.9 & 35.8 % lower resp. in Hs than in BP chimps at matched dimensionless speeds,
this is due in part to mechanisms for the storage & release of elastic energy at the ankle & hip in Hs.
These results
- indicate distinct ‘heel strike’ & ‘lateral balance’ mechanics in Hs & BP chimps,
- suggest a greater dissipation of mechanical energy through soft tissue deformations in Hs.
Together, our results document important differences between Hs & BP chimp walking mechanics over a full stride,
this permits a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanics & energetics of chimp BPism & the evolution of hominin walking.
MV: Ah?
Yes, our little mermaid sees the truth now. Walking under load produced muscular stress on the femur and occipital ligaments resulting in thicker denser associated bones, unlike arboreal chimps. Not so hard to fathom.