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Running backwards: soft landing-hard takeoff, a less efficient rebound.

G A Cavagna1, M A Legramandi, A La Torre

  • 1Dipartimento di Fisiologia Umana, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 32, Milan 20133, Italy. giovanni.cavagna@unimi.it

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|August 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human running exhibits a hard landing and soft takeoff, optimizing muscle function. Disrupting this pattern via backward running reverses the asymmetry, reducing efficiency and increasing energy cost.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Physiology
  • Locomotion Science

Background:

  • Human running at low to intermediate speeds shows a distinct landing-takeoff asymmetry.
  • This asymmetry involves greater force during the stretched muscle phase (hard landing) and lower force during the shortened muscle phase (soft takeoff).
  • This pattern is observed across various gaits and animal species, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the interplay between muscle properties (motor) and skeletal mechanics (machine) in human running.
  • To examine the mechanical energy of the center of mass during backward running, where the typical motor-machine coupling is altered.
  • To determine the relevance of this motor-machine interplay in human locomotion.

Main Methods:

  • Experimentally measured the mechanical energy of the center of mass.
  • Utilized backward running as a paradigm to voluntarily disrupt the natural coupling between muscle function and limb mechanics.
  • Analyzed the landing-takeoff phases during this altered running condition.

Main Results:

  • Backward running reversed the typical landing-takeoff asymmetry, resulting in a 'soft landing' and 'hard takeoff'.
  • This reversed asymmetry was associated with a significant reduction in the efficiency of positive work production.
  • Increased metabolic energy expenditure was observed when muscles were forced to work against their inherent force-velocity properties.

Conclusions:

  • The natural landing-takeoff asymmetry in human running, hopping, and trotting is a beneficial interplay between the muscle's force-velocity characteristics and the body's mechanical system.
  • Deviating from this natural asymmetry, as seen in backward running, leads to decreased efficiency and higher metabolic costs.
  • Understanding this motor-machine interaction is crucial for optimizing locomotion and energy expenditure.