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Cited by 76Physiological and biochemical adaptationsLower Extremity Biomechanics and PathologiesCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Reappraisal of the comparative cost of human locomotion using gait-specific allometric analyses.

Rubenson, Jonas, Heliams, Denham B., Maloney, Shane K., Withers, Philip C., Lloyd, David G., Fournier, Paul A.·2007·Journal of Experimental Biology
DOI 10.1242/jeb.000992
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Abstract

SUMMARY: The alleged high net energy cost of running and low net energy cost of walking in humans have played an important role in the interpretation of the evolution of human bipedalism and the biomechanical determinants of the metabolic cost of locomotion. This study re-explores how the net metabolic energy cost of running and walking (J kg–1m–1) in humans compares to that of animals of similar mass using new allometric analyses of previously published data. Firstly, this study shows that the use of the slope of the regression between the rate of energy expenditure and speed to calculate the net energy cost of locomotion overestimates the net cost of human running. Also, the net energy cost of human running is only 17% higher than that predicted based on their mass. This value is not exceptional given that over a quarter of the previously examined mammals and birds have a net energy cost of running that is 17% or more above their allometrically predicted value. Using a new allometric equation for the net energy cost of walking, this study also shows that human walking is 20%less expensive than predicted for their mass. Of the animals used to generate this equation, 25% have a relatively lower net cost of walking compared with their allometrically predicted value. This new walking allometric analysis also indicates that the scaling of the net energy cost of locomotion with body mass is gait dependent. In conclusion, the net costs of running and walking in humans are moderately different from those predicted from allometry and are not remarkable for an animal of its size.

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102 of 102 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The metabolic cost of walking (kcal kg−1 m−1) was similar among Hadza and Western groups.

    “The metabolic cost of walking (kcal kg−1 m−1) and resting (kcal kg−1 s−1) were also similar among Hadza and Western groups.”

    From Hunter-gatherer energetics and human obesity (2012) · cites this paper as [28]

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Authors
Rubenson, J., Heliams, D. B., Maloney, S. K., Withers, P. C., Lloyd, D. G., & Fournier, P. A.
Affiliations
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • Fauna Technology, PO Box 558, Gosnells, WA 6990, Australia
Corresponding author
Rubenson, Jonas
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Experimental Biology
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Published
2007-10-15
Volume
210
Issue
20
Pages
3513-3524
ISSN
  • 0022-0949 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9145
DOI
10.1242/jeb.000992
OpenAlex
W2169847321
Cited by
76
References
102
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 7
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Experimental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
human running, human walking, allometry, energy expenditure, body mass scaling, bipedalism evolution
MeSH terms
Animals, Anthropometry, Body Weight, Energy Metabolism, Gait, Humans, Locomotion, Running, Walking

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