Running, hopping and trotting: tuning step frequency to the resonant frequency of the bouncing system favors larger animals

The Journal of Experimental Biology
G A Cavagna, M A Legramandi

Abstract

A long-lasting challenge in comparative physiology is to understand why the efficiency of the mechanical work done to maintain locomotion increases with body mass. It has been suggested that this is due to a more elastic step in larger animals. Here, we show in running, hopping and trotting animals, and in human running during growth, that the resonant frequency of the bouncing system decreases with increasing body mass and is, surprisingly, independent of species or gait. Step frequency roughly equals the resonant frequency in trotting and running, whereas it is about half the resonant frequency in hopping. The energy loss by elastic hysteresis during loading and unloading the bouncing system from its equilibrium position decreases with increasing body mass. Similarity to a symmetrical bounce increases with increasing body mass and, for a given body mass, seems to be maximal in hopping, intermediate in trotting and minimal in running. We conclude that: (1) tuning step frequency to the resonant frequency of the bouncing system coincides with a lower hysteresis loss in larger, more-compliant animals; (2) the mechanism of gait per se affects similarity with a symmetrical bounce, independent of hysteresis; and (3) the greater effi...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1990·Journal of Biomechanics·T A McMahon, G C Cheng
Jan 1, 1989·Journal of Biomechanics·R Blickhan
Nov 5, 1997·Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology·G A CavagnaG Musch
May 23, 1998·The Journal of Physiology·B SchepensG A Cavagna
Apr 17, 2002·Journal of Biomechanics·Andre SeyfarthReinhard Blickhan
Dec 18, 2002·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·R McNeill Alexander
May 6, 2008·The Journal of Experimental Biology·G A CavagnaL A Peyré-Tartaruga
Sep 4, 2009·European Journal of Applied Physiology·Giovanni A Cavagna
Feb 20, 2013·Scientific Reports·Mario A LegramandiGiovanni A Cavagna
Feb 4, 2014·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Daniel Maykranz, Andre Seyfarth

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Citations

Dec 8, 2017·PloS One·Alex de O FagundesLeonardo A Peyré-Tartaruga
May 22, 2016·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Lewis G Halsey
Jan 9, 2019·Frontiers in Physiology·Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga, Marcelo Coertjens
May 2, 2019·Frontiers in Physiology·Rodrigo Gomes da RosaLeonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga

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