The proportional work of lifting the center of mass during walking

Abstract

The present study determined the proportion of energy consumption used to lift the center of mass vertically during walking. By assuming that the vertical oscillations of the trunk were identical to those of the center of mass, the complexity of studying the human gait was simplified. The work performed on the center of mass, defined as lift work, was calculated using the subject's mass and the vertical displacement of the trunk. Compensating for the fact that human muscles are approximately 25% efficient in performing external work, the mechanical work was compared with the total energy expenditure, determined using an expired air analysis. At 1.34 and 1.79 m/s, 53.2 ± 9.3% and 62.8 ± 8.6%, respectively, of the total energy can be explained by lift work. At 0.45 and 0.90 m/s, the proportions are considerably less, 21.6 ± 6.6% and 37.6 ± 8.2%, respectively. These findings provide a rationale for why the metabolic energy cost per unit distance is greater at slower speeds than comfortable or fast speeds of walking. The total energy consumption can be accounted for by changes in the potential and kinetic energies and internal muscular work, defined as the less readily observable work probably needed for balance. The present study demonstrated that the metabolic energy cost of changing the potential energy of the center of mass during walking is significantly less relative to the total energy consumption at slower speeds than at higher speeds. Because kinetic energy is proportional to the square of the velocity, the metabolic energy cost of changing this energy is relatively small at slower speeds. Internal muscular work must therefore play a large role in total energy consumption at slow speeds of walking.