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A low-cost method for carrying loads during human walking.

Christopher J Arellano1, Obioma B McReynolds2, Shernice A Thomas2

  • 1Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA carellano@uh.edu.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|October 27, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Carrying loads on swinging arms during walking is as metabolically cheap as carrying them at the waist. This finding suggests that arm swing dynamics significantly reduce the energetic cost of load carriage.

Keywords:
Arm swingBiomechanicsEnergeticsLocomotionMetabolic cost

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Physiology
  • Kinesiology

Background:

  • The metabolic cost of carrying loads during locomotion is influenced by load placement.
  • Arm swing during walking is often considered to be passive, resembling pendulum dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the metabolic cost of carrying loads at different body locations (arms, legs, waist) during walking.
  • To test the hypothesis that carrying loads at the arms' center of mass (COM) is metabolically cheaper than at the legs' COM or waist.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve subjects walked on a treadmill at 1.25 m/s with and without an 8 kg load.
  • Load placement included swinging arms, non-swinging arms, legs, and waist.
  • Measurements included net metabolic power, limb kinematics, and free vertical moment.

Main Results:

  • Carrying loads on swinging arms resulted in a 9% lower metabolic cost compared to carrying loads on the legs (P<0.001).
  • The metabolic cost of carrying loads on swinging arms was not significantly different from carrying loads at the waist (P=0.529).
  • Load carriage altered arm swing amplitude, but the free vertical moment remained consistent across conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Carrying loads on the swinging arms is metabolically equivalent to carrying loads at the waist.
  • The passive dynamics of arm swing can effectively mitigate the metabolic cost associated with carrying loads in this position.
  • Load placement significantly impacts the energetic demands of human locomotion.