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Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings
Published on: July 26, 2022
The interplay between speed, kinetics, and hand postures during primate terrestrial locomotion
1Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-8081, USA. Biren.Patel@Stonybrook.edu
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|July 30, 2009
Summary
Primates do not use digitigrade hand postures for high-speed locomotion. Instead, they adopt more palmigrade postures at faster speeds, likely to distribute forces and protect their hands.
Area of Science:
- Primate locomotion
- Biomechanics
- Comparative anatomy
Background:
- Nonprimate mammals utilize digitigrade postures to manage limb stresses during high-speed movement.
- Understanding primate locomotion may reveal adaptations for terrestrial environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if primates adopt digitigrade hand postures during terrestrial locomotion.
- To determine if hand posture in primates relates to ground reaction forces (GRFs) and speed.
Main Methods:
- Three cercopithecine monkey species were filmed during locomotion on a force platform.
- Three-dimensional forelimb kinematics and peak vertical GRFs were measured.
- Hand posture was quantified using the metacarpal-ground angle (MGA).
Main Results:
- Digitigrade postures (larger MGA) correlated with reduced GRF moment arms and wrist joint moments.
- Contrary to predictions, primates exhibited more palmigrade postures (smaller MGA) at higher speeds and forces.
- Higher forces at faster speeds did not lead to more digitigrade postures.
Conclusions:
- Primates do not appear to use digitigrade hand postures as a cursorial adaptation for reducing joint moments at high speeds.
- Digitigrady at slower speeds may enhance wrist joint muscle function.
- Increased palmigrady at faster speeds likely distributes higher GRFs, potentially reducing hand stress.
