The evolution of human running: Effects of changes in lower-limb length on locomotor economy

Journal of Human Evolution

Volumn 53, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 191-196

  Steudel Numbers, Karen L ^a   Weaver, Timothy D ^a   Wall Scheffler, Cara M ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON   (United States)

Author keywords

Energetics; Human running; Limb length

Indexed keywords

BODY MASS; HUMAN EVOLUTION; LIMB; LOCOMOTION; WALKING;

EID: 34447094637     PISSN: 00472484     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2007.04.001     Document Type: Article

References (34)

1. Alexander R.M. Stride length and speed for adults, children and fossil hominids. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 63 (1984) 23-27
2. Alexander R.M., and Jayes A.S. A dynamic similarity hypothesis for the gaits of quadrupedal mammals. J. Zool. Soc. Lond. 201 (1983) 135-152
3. Bramble D.M., and Lieberman D.E. Endurance running and the evolution of Homo. Nature 432 (2004) 345-352
4. Carrier D.R. The energetic paradox of human running and hominid evolution. Curr. Anthropol. 25 (1984) 483-495
5. Cavanagh P.R., and Kram R. Stride length in distance running: velocity, body dimensions, and added mass effects. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 21 (1989) 467-479
6. Cavanagh P.R., and Williams K.R. The effect of stride length variation on oxygen uptake during distance running. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 14 (1982) 30-35
7. DeJaeger D., Willems P.A., and Heglund N.C. The energy cost of walking in children. Eur. J. Physiol. 441 (2001) 538-543
8. Fancy S.G., and White R.G. Energy expenditures for locomotion by barren-ground caribou. Can. J. Zool. 65 (1987) 122-128
9. FAO/WHO/UNU, 1985. Energy and protein requirements: report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU expert consultation. WHO Technical Report Series 724.
10. Ferretti G., Atchou G., Grassi B., Marconi C., and Cerretelli P. Energetics of locomotion in African pygmies. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 62 (1991) 7-10
11. Heglund N.C., and Taylor C.R. Speed, stride frequency and energy cost per stride: how do they change with body size and gait?. J. Exp. Biol. 138 (1988) 301-318
12. Holliday T.W., and Falsetti A.B. Lower limb length of European early modern humans in relation to mobility and climate. J. Hum. Evol. 29 (1995) 141-153
13. Hreljac A. Effects of physical characteristics on the gait transition speed during human locomotion. Hum. Mov. Sci. 14 (1995) 205-216
14. Janis C.M., and Wilhelm P.B. Were there mammalian pursuit predators in the Tertiary? Dances with wolf avatars. J. Mammal. Evol. 1 (1993) 103-125
15. Jungers W. Lucy's limbs: skeletal allometry and locomotion in Australopithecus afarensis. Nature 297 (1982) 676-678
16. Jungers W., and Stern Jr. J. Body proportions, skeletal allometry and locomotion in the Hadar hominids: a reply to Wolpoff. J. Hum. Evol. 12 (1983) 673-684
17. Kramer P. Modelling the locomotor energetics of extinct hominids. J. Exp. Biol. 202 (1999) 2807-2818
18. Kramer P., and Eck G.G. Locomotor energetics and lower limb length in hominid bipedality. J. Hum. Evol. 38 (2000) 651-666
19. Lieberman D.E., Raichlen D.A., Pontzer H., Bramble D.M., and Cutright-Smith E. The human gluteus maximus and its role in running. J. Exp. Biol. 209 (2006) 2143-2155
20. McArdle W.D., Katch F.I., and Katch V.L. Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. fifth ed. (2001), Lippincott, Williams and Wilkens, New York
21. Minetti A.E., Saibene F., Ardigo L.P., Atchou G., Schena F., and Ferretti G. Pygmy locomotion. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 68 (1994) 285-290
22. Pontzer H. A new model predicting locomotor cost from limb length via force production. J. Exp. Biol. 208 (2005) 1513-1524
23. Schmidt-Nielsen K. Scaling: Why Is Animal Size So Important? (1984), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
24. Sokal R.R., and Rohlf F.J. Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research. second ed. (1981), W.H. Freeman and Company, New York
25. Steudel-Numbers K. Energetics in Homo erectus and other early hominins: the consequences of increased lower limb length. J. Hum. Evol. 51 (2006) 445-453
26. Steudel-Numbers K., and Tilkens M.J. The effect of lower limb length on the energetic cost of locomotion: implications for fossil hominins. J. Hum. Evol. 47 (2004) 95-109
27. Steudel-Numbers K., and Weaver T.D. Froude number corrections in anthropological studies. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 131 (2006) 27-32
28. Steudel K., and Beattie J. Does limb length predict the relative energetic cost of locomotion in mammals?. J. Zool. Soc. Lond. 235 (1995) 501-514
29. Taylor C.R., Schmidt-Nielsen K., and Raab J.L. Scaling the energetic cost of running to body size in mammals. Am. J. Physiol. 219 (1970) 1104-1107
30. Thorstensson A., and Roberthson H. Adaptations to changing speed in human locomotion: speed of transition between walking and running. Acta Physiol. Scand. 131 (1987) 211-214
31. Trinkaus E. Neanderthal limb proportions and cold adaptation. In: Stringer C. (Ed). Aspects of Human Evolution (1981), Taylor and Francis Ltd, London 187-224
32. Ward C. Interpreting the posture and locomotion of Australopithecus afarensis: where do we stand?. Yearb. Phys. Anthropol. 45 (2002) 185-215
33. Weaver T.D., and Steudel-Numbers K. Does climate or mobility explain the differences in body proportions between Neandertals and their Upper Paleolithic successors?. Evol. Anthropol. 14 (2005) 218-223
34. Witte H., Preuschoft H., and Recknagel S. Human body proportions explained on the basis of biomechanical principles. Z. Morphol. Anthropol. 78 (1991) 407-423