mumsy

Watch your step.

When walking, humans generally strike the ground with the heel first, and then roll onto the ball of the foot. Heel-strike walking is more energy efficient; it takes 53 percent more energy to walk while landing on the ball of the foot first. However, the heel-strike is not as conducive to running, where elite runners, and animals known for their running ability, land on the ball or toes of the foot first.

So are humans good walkers or good runners? Researchers aren’t sure. While our tendency to walk heel first is good for walking, we also have characteristics that make us good runners. One of the biggest advantages humans have is the ability to sweat. Sweating is an efficient way to keep our bodies cool while we run.

Also, while running with a heel-strike may not be advantageous, we don’t have to run that way. Elite runners often naturally, or through training, run on the balls of their feet. When people run barefoot they’re forced to run on the balls of their feet, because the heel-strike would be uncomfortable at best. So humans are capable of running in an energy-efficient manner.

Whether walking or running, human ancestors covered a lot of ground.

Picture Credit: http://cauldronsandcupcakes.com/2012/04/09/what-to-do-when-you-dont-know-where-youre-going/

Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100212092304.htm

http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/tramps-like-us

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127134241.htm