Mechanical work and efficiency in level walking and running

Cavagna, G. A.; Kaneko, M.

Affiliations

¹Istituto di Fisiologia Umana dell'Università di Milano and Centro di Studio per la Fisiologia del Lavoro Muscolare del C.N.R., 20133 Milano, Italy

²Present address: Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Osaka College of Physical Education, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan

Abstract

The mechanical power spent to accelerate the limbs relative to the trunk in level walking and running, W_int, has been measured at various ‘constant’ speeds (3-33 km/hr) with the cinematographic procedure used by Fenn (1930a) at high speeds of running.
W_int increases approximately as the square of the speed of walking and running. For a given speed W_int is greater in walking than in running.
In walking above 3 km/hr, W_int is greater than the power spent to accelerate and lift the centre of mass of the body at each step, W_ext (measured by Cavagna, Thys & Zamboni, 1976b). In running Ẇ_int < W_ext up to about 20 km/hr, whereas at higher speeds W_int > W_ext.
The total work done by the muscles was calculated as W_tot = ǀW_intǀ + ǀW_extǀ. Except that at the highest speeds of walking, the total work done per unit distance W_tot/km is greater in running than in walking.
The efficiency of positive work was measured from the ratio W_tot/Net energy expenditure: this is greater than 0·25 indicating that both in walking and in running the muscles utilize, during shortening, some energy stored during a previous phase of negative work (stretching).
In walking the efficiency reaches a maximum (0·35-0·40) at intermediate speeds, as may be expected from the properties of the contractile component of muscle. In running the efficiency increases steadily with speed (from 0·45 to 0·70-0·80) suggesting that positive work derives mainly from the passive recoil of muscle elastic elements and to a lesser extent from the active shortening of the contractile machinery. These findings are consistent with the different mechanics of the two exercises.

Links

DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp011866

PubMed: 874922

WoS: A1977DK65400010

History

Received: 1976-10-18

Cited By (27)

Year	Entry
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1990	Hull ML, Hawkins DA. Analysis of muscular work in multisegmental movements: application to cycling. In: Winters JM, Woo SL-Y, eds. Multiple Muscle Systems: Biomechanics and Movement Organization. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1990:621-638.
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2017	Riddick RC. Energetics of Human Running: A Mechanistic Perspective [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 2017.
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