Understanding How Joints Power Walking and Running

It is apparent that both walking and running employ the muscles and joints in the leg, but a recent insight by researchers from North Carolina State University has revealed how hips power walking and the ankles power running.

Further it became clear that the knees enable only one-fifth or less of walking or running power.

Researchers hope that this study will pave the way for the best prosthetic devices for people.


"Assistive devices, such as an exoskeleton or prosthesis, may have motors near both the hip and ankle. If a person will be walking and then running, you'd need to redistribute energy from the hip to the ankle when the person makes that transition," researchers said.

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Source: Medindia