Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
10:52
Simulation of Human-induced Vibrations Based on the Characterized In-field Pedestrian Behavior
Published on: April 13, 2016
Energy expenditure during human gait. I - An optimized model.
Silvia Rodrigo1, Isabel Garcia, Marian Franco
1Medical Technology Cabinet, National University of San Juan, CP5400, Argentina. srodrigo@gateme.unsj.edu.ar
Summary
A new 3D neuromusculoskeletal model estimates human energy expenditure during locomotion. This model predicts thermal and mechanical energy release based on muscle activation and fiber type, advancing biomechanical understanding.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motion Analysis
- Musculoskeletal Modeling
Background:
- Understanding human locomotion requires accurate models of skeletal muscle dynamics.
- Estimating energy consumption is crucial for analyzing the efficiency of human movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a 3D large-scale neuromusculoskeletal model within multibody dynamics.
- To develop a phenomenological model for estimating skeletal muscle energy expenditure during normal locomotion.
Main Methods:
- Developed a phenomenological model to characterize skeletal muscle energy expenditure.
- The model predicts thermal and mechanical energy liberation under various physiological conditions.
- Utilized multibody dynamics framework for a comprehensive human body model.
Main Results:
- The model can estimate energy consumption during normal human locomotion.
- It predicts energy liberation considering submaximal activation, muscle fiber type, and contractile conditions.
- Provides a foundation for future biomechanical problem formulations.
Conclusions:
- The developed model offers a novel approach to characterizing muscle energy expenditure in human motion.
- Future work should integrate muscle group coordination for multijoint motion.
- This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the biomechanics of gait.
Related Concept Videos
00:51Energy Budgets and Reproductive Strategies
Organisms must balance energy intake with the energy required for growth, maintenance, and reproduction. These trade-offs result in a variety of survivorship and reproductive strategies, including semelparity and iteroparity. Semelparous species reproduce only once in their lifetime, often investing most available resources into that single reproductive event. Iteroparous species, by contrast, reproduce multiple times over their lifetimes, typically allocating fewer resources to any single...
01:10Work and Energy for Variable Forces
When an object is acted upon by a variable force, the amount of work done and the change in energy of the object can be more complex to calculate compared to when a constant force is applied. Work is the product of force and displacement, while energy is the capacity of a system to do work. When a constant force is applied to an object, the work done can be calculated as the product of the force and the distance moved in the direction of the force. However, when a variable force is applied, the...
00:57Power Expended by a Constant Force
The relationship between work done and the time taken to do it can be explained using the concept of power. For example, several sprinters in a race may have the same velocity when they reach the finish line, therefore doing the same amount of work, but the winner does it in the least amount of time. Thus, power is defined as the rate of doing work. Since work can vary as a function of time, the average power is defined as the work done during a time interval, divided by the time interval.
01:25Metabolic Rate
The human body is a powerhouse of energy, with every cell performing numerous functions that require energy. This energy production and consumption is measured by the metabolic rate, which quantifies the total heat generated by all the body's chemical reactions and mechanical work. This measurement helps to determine the rate of kilocalorie (kcal) consumption needed to fuel all ongoing activities.
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence the...
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence the...
01:14Energy Diagrams - I
The dynamics of a mechanical system can be easily understood by interpreting a potential energy diagram. Since energy is a scalar quantity, the interpretation of the dynamics of the system becomes even simpler.
Take the example of a skater on a parabolic ramp. The potential energy at different points along the ramp will be proportional to the height of the ramp, which varies quadratically with the horizontal position on the ramp. As the skater moves down the ramp from the highest position,...
Take the example of a skater on a parabolic ramp. The potential energy at different points along the ramp will be proportional to the height of the ramp, which varies quadratically with the horizontal position on the ramp. As the skater moves down the ramp from the highest position,...
01:09Clearance Models: Physiological Models
Drug clearance is a critical pharmacokinetic process involving the irreversible removal of drugs from the body through various organs over a specified time period. Physiological models are indispensable in determining organ-specific clearance, defined by the proportion of the drug eliminated per unit of time from the organ's blood volume.
The organ's clearance rate depends on the blood flow to the organ and the extraction ratio (E). The extraction ratio describes the organ's proficiency in drug...
The organ's clearance rate depends on the blood flow to the organ and the extraction ratio (E). The extraction ratio describes the organ's proficiency in drug...