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Published on: April 18, 2011
Pendular activity of human upper limbs during slow and normal walking
1Department of Anthropology/Sociology, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania 19530.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Human arm swing patterns change with walking speed, shifting from alternating to unison movements. This change aligns with the upper limb's natural pendular frequency, suggesting a pendulum model for walking dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human locomotion
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Humans exhibit distinct upper limb swinging patterns during walking.
- At higher speeds, arms swing alternately; at lower speeds, they swing in unison.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the transition in upper limb swing patterns during walking.
- To investigate individual variations in this transition using a pendulum model.
Main Methods:
- Modeled the upper limb as a compound pendulum.
- Measured 27 subjects walking at various speeds.
- Compared natural pendular frequency (NPF) to observed transition stride frequency.
Main Results:
- The transition stride frequency closely matched the calculated NPF.
- Results held even when NPF was altered by adding weights.
Conclusions:
- The natural pendular frequency governs the shift in upper limb swing patterns.
- A pendulum model effectively explains upper limb function in human walking.
