Effects of independently altering body weight and mass on the energetic cost of a human running model

JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS

卷:49

Article

Ackerman, Jeffrey¹  Seipel, Justin¹ 

[1] Purdue Univ, Sch Mech Engn, W Lafayette, IN 47907 USA

关键词: Running;    Energetics;    Metabolic cost;    Mechanical work;    Leg stiffness;    Locomotion;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.01.016

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

The mechanisms underlying the metabolic cost of running, and legged locomotion in general, remain to be well understood. Prior experimental studies show that the metabolic cost of human running correlates well with the vertical force generated to support body weight, the mechanical work done, and changes in the effective leg stiffness. Further, previous work shows that the metabolic cost of running decreases with decreasing body weight, increases with increasing body weight and mass, and does not significantly change with changing body mass alone. In the present study, we seek to uncover the basic mechanism underlying this existing experimental data. We find that an actuated spring-mass mechanism representing the effective mechanics of human running provides a mechanistic explanation for the previously reported changes in the metabolic cost of human running if the dimensionless relative leg stiffness (effective stiffness normalized by body weight and leg length) is regulated to be constant. The model presented in this paper provides a mechanical explanation for the changes in metabolic cost due to changing body weight and mass which have been previously measured experimentally and highlights the importance of active leg stiffness regulation during human running. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free