Steady bipedal locomotion with a forward situated whole-body centre of mass: the potential importance of temporally asymmetric ground reaction forces

Christofer J Clemente; P J Bishop; N Newman; S A Hocknull

doi:10.1111/jzo.12521

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Steady bipedal locomotion with a forward situated whole-body centre of mass: the potential importance of temporally asymmetric ground reaction forces

Journal article

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Steady bipedal locomotion with a forward situated whole-body centre of mass: the potential importance of temporally asymmetric ground reaction forces

Christofer J Clemente, P J Bishop, N Newman and S A Hocknull

Journal of Zoology, Vol.304(3), pp.193-201

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12521

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Abstract

bipedal locomotion

asymmetric ground reaction forces

force-time profiles

whole body centre of mass

ground reaction force

bipedalism

Bipedalism has repeatedly evolved in many independent lineages throughout tetrapod history. Despite being widespread, the fundamental biomechanical factors involved in bipedalism remain unclear. This study experimentally investigated bipedalism in facultatively bipedal lizards and obligatorily bipedal birds to explore temporal asymmetry in the vertical component of the ground reaction force (F-z). Both lizards and birds showed significant temporal asymmetry - with higher vertical forces exerted earlier in the stance - as indicated by three different measures computed from force-time profiles. This result parallels those reported previously for other bipedal animal groups that have a forward situated whole-body centre of mass (COM), such as kangaroos and non-human primates. Humans, in contrast, exhibit an orthograde posture with the COM close the hips, and show little temporal asymmetry in F-z, particularly during walking. Across a wide range of quadrupedal animals, temporal asymmetry is quite variable. Collectively, these results suggest that an early-skewed' F-z may be an important feature of steady bipedal locomotion when the COM is forward of the hips, although an exact mechanism of cause-and-effect, if one exists, remains to be established. This finding has relevance for attempts at better understanding bipedal locomotion in extinct animals that likely had a COM located forward of the hips, such as carnivorous dinosaurs.

Details

Title: Steady bipedal locomotion with a forward situated whole-body centre of mass: the potential importance of temporally asymmetric ground reaction forces
Authors: Christofer J Clemente (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
P J Bishop (Author) - Queensland Museum
N Newman (Author) - Greenslopes Private Hospital
S A Hocknull (Author) - Queensland Museum
Publication details: Journal of Zoology, Vol.304(3), pp.193-201
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12521
ISSN: 0952-8369
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451247802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Zoology

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