Articles tagged with Human Locomotion
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Researchers identified two fundamental coordination patterns in underwater dolphin kick, accounting for over 99% of movement across performance levels. Faster swimmers exhibited greater shoulder extension and increased lower trunk movement, enabling reduced water resistance and improved propulsion.
A new international study identifies several protein families potentially involved in bone remodeling and highlights their role in shaping bone structures through mechanoadaptation. The study sheds light on the evolutionary mechanisms behind bone mechanoadaptation and its relation to locomotion patterns such as bipedalism.
A recent study from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences uses wearable sensor technology and machine learning to estimate ground-reaction forces in runners. This data can provide insights into performance and injury, enabling the development of devices that deliver real-time feedback to users.
A new study published in PLOS One found that running with a stroller reduces vertical loading metrics by up to 17%, potentially decreasing injury risk. However, torsional loading metrics increased significantly, posing a potential trade-off.
Northern Arizona University researchers have developed an open-source robotic exoskeleton framework, OpenExo, which provides comprehensive instructions for building single- or multi-joint exoskeletons. The system helps overcome challenges in developing biomechanically beneficial and technologically advanced exoskeletons.
The MyoStep project represents a significant advancement in pediatric mobility aids for children with cerebral palsy, addressing motor impairments that restrict participation in physical activities. The soft power suit provides a lightweight, discreet solution tailored to fit seamlessly into the lives of children and their families.
A new smart insole system monitors how people walk in real time to improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions like plantar fasciitis and Parkinson’s disease. The system offers high-resolution spatial sensing, self-powering capability, and combines with machine learning algorithms.
Researchers found a single young adult Paranthropus robustus fossil with evidence of habitual upright walking, weighing only about a meter tall and 27 kg at death. The species' small size made it vulnerable to predators like sabertooth cats and giant hyenas.
Researchers tracked 131 juvenile sea turtles and found they may be active swimmers during their early life stage, challenging existing hypotheses. The study provides important data for assessing risks from human activity and informing conservation efforts.
The study analyzed swimmer movement using optical motion capture and found that the direction of jet flow between vortices around the foot shifted downward as swimming speed increased. This shift is hypothesized to enhance forward propulsion during up-kicking, suggesting a refined technique for underwater undulatory swimming.
The study reveals that sea robin legs are sensitive to both mechanical and chemical stimuli, and are covered in papillae similar to human taste buds. The research provides new insights into the evolution of this unique trait, which could offer clues about how humans developed bipedalism.
Study reveals the brain controls leg coordination during walking only when discoordination exceeds a certain threshold. Researchers found that not actively intervening improves energy efficiency and maneuverability.
A new robotic leg powered by artificial muscles can walk, jump, and detect obstacles without complex sensors. Its ability to lift its own weight explosively enables high jumps and fast movements.
A new study by UC Riverside demonstrates that calorie restriction does not significantly reduce voluntary exercise in mice. Researchers found that mice continued to run at similar levels regardless of the amount of food they ate, challenging the long-held belief that dieting drains workout energy. The study's findings have implications...
Researchers developed an AI-powered method to train robotic exoskeletons, enabling users to save energy while walking, running, and climbing stairs. The new approach allows for rapid development of exoskeleton controllers without lengthy human-involved experiments, offering promise for aiding individuals with mobility challenges.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an AI-powered method to train robotic exoskeletons to autonomously assist users in various movements, reducing energy consumption by up to 24.3% for able-bodied individuals and 15.4% for those with mobility impairments.
Researchers found that zebrafish synchronize movements by taking turns to move and responding to neighbors' timing, a two-way process known as reciprocity. Virtual reality experiments confirmed the principle, enabling the recreation of natural schooling behavior in fish and virtual conspecifics.
Researchers have created a method to control pneumatic artificial muscles with embedded bifurcation structures, which can generate diverse dynamics and patterns. This breakthrough enables robots to exhibit more adaptable and flexible movements, streamlining hardware and software development.
Researchers assessed swimming performance and survival under stress to evaluate the effects of three compounds on health and lifespan in Caenorhabditis. The study found complex relationships among median lifespan, oxidative stress resistance, thermotolerance, and mobility vigor.
Researchers at UNIST have unveiled a new principle of motion in liquid crystals, where objects can move in a directed manner by changing their sizes periodically. The discovery has far-reaching implications for the development of miniature robots and advances research in complex fluids.
A new system synthesizes avatars into 360-degree videos with foot vibrations to create an immersive walking experience. The avatar's shadow induces an illusory presence of the body, while synchronized foot vibrations enhance the sense of leg action.
A new study found that the progeny of successive generations of old parents had significantly shorter lifespans than those from young parents in both Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. The researchers also discovered that switching to only one generation of younger parents improved the healthspan of the offspring.
A new smartphone app called OpenCap can analyze human motion and provide valuable insights for physical rehabilitation. Developed by NIH-funded researchers, the app is 25 times faster than current techniques and costs about 1% of traditional methods.
Duke researchers demonstrate that incorporating rhythm into movement designs can optimize performance and efficiency for robots and animals. By varying the timing of movements, optimal rhythms can be achieved, affecting all aspects of design.
Researchers from the Netherlands found that traditional swimming lessons in the country often discourage children from having fun in the pool. By adopting a teaching style based on self-determination theory, instructors can nurture autonomy, competence, and relatedness, leading to improved swimming skills and increased enjoyment. The s...
The study combines real and robotic insects to understand how they sense forces in their limbs while walking. Campaniform sensilla (CS) are force receptors found in insect limbs that respond to stress and strain, providing critical information for controlling locomotion.
Researchers developed a new method for controlling lower limb exoskeletons using deep reinforcement learning, enabling more robust and natural walking control. The system has the potential to benefit users with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and other neurological conditions.
A study from Dartmouth College found that athletes' physique is adapted to shedding or retaining heat in certain climates, affecting their performance in Ironman events. Taller, leaner runners excel in warm climates, while stockier builds fare better in colder climates.
Researchers have pinpointed a new neurological target, the mesencephalic locomotor region, to improve walking recovery in people with spinal cord injuries. Electrical stimulation of this area has shown promise in animal models, and a clinical trial is underway.
Scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology investigate how cats maintain balance while studying human spinal cord injury treatment.
Ritsumeikan University researchers have developed a soft robotic microfinger that enables direct interaction with insects through tactile sensing. The study shows great promise towards realizing human interactions with the microworld and has applications in augmented reality technology.
Research from SMU's Locomotor Performance Lab shows that men have a relatively small advantage over women in shorter sprint distances. The study analyzed data from sanctioned international athletic competitions and found that sex differences in sprint running performance increase with event distance.
Research findings suggest that aerobic fitness, cognitive processing speed, and walking endurance are strongly associated in individuals with thalamic atrophy. Aerobic exercise training may be beneficial in restoring function for those with this biomarker of neurodegeneration.
Researchers discovered that carrying and walking with crying infants for five minutes significantly reduces their distress and promotes sleep. The study suggests a new approach to soothing infant crying, which may improve long-term sleep outcomes.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a pneumatic robotic arm powered by compressed air that can grasp objects and go, using textile-based energy harvesting system. The device is designed for individuals with disabilities and can produce equivalent of 3 watts of power, outperforming other energy harvesting strategies.
A WVU researcher is studying corollary discharge circuits in fruit flies to better understand how the brain integrates sensory information and coordinate movement. The goal of this research is to shed light on human disease and human performance, with potential applications for improving fighter pilot safety.
Researchers developed a new framework to measure stability during walking by analyzing mechanical energetics, enabling deeper insights into human movement and fall responses. The approach can help pinpoint specific muscles or joints to target with rehabilitation therapy and inform advanced exoskeleton design.
A new study found that consuming more ultraprocessed foods is associated with poorer locomotor skills and lower cardiovascular fitness in children. The research suggests that educating families about cost-effective ways to reduce ultraprocessed food intake can help decrease the risk for cardiovascular health problems in adulthood.
A study by Kyoto University researchers reveals that human fetuses develop slower shoulder growth before birth, alleviating complications during delivery. This adaptation allows for a safer passage through the birth canal, reconciling the incompatibility between wide shoulders and narrow pelvis.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University have engineered 3D human spinal cord tissues and implanted them in lab models with long-term chronic paralysis, resulting in an 80% success rate in restoring walking abilities. The team aims to conduct clinical trials in human patients within a few years to make the treatment commercially available.
Researchers have found conclusive evidence that early humans made footprints at Laetoli Site A in Tanzania, contradicting the long-held theory that they were made by bears. The study reveals distinct differences between human and bear footprints, including a wide heel-to-toe ratio, which suggests bipedal locomotion.
Researchers developed a bioinspired system using ultrasound measurements to create customized assistance profiles for users. The exosuit significantly reduced metabolic energy of walking across various speeds and inclines.
Researchers at LSU Health have rediscovered the correct anatomy of the hip muscles, finding that they do not join into a single tendon but instead attach to different regions. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolution of human upright gait and bipedal locomotion.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that lack of sleep affects gait control, with students who stayed awake all night performing poorly. However, those who compensated for lost sleep by catching up on weekends showed improved walking control.
Research from Florida Atlantic University suggests that older adults living in walkable neighborhoods with greenspaces benefit from increased physical activity, with 5.4 minutes of daily neighborhood walking associated with African Americans and 3 minutes for whites
Researchers used zebrafish to study spinal cord development and its role in controlling new movements, discovering patterns of neural activity that can be applied to human locomotor activities like walking and swimming. The study aims to improve treatments for movement disorders by identifying target neurons for restoration.
Researchers at Osaka University used machine learning to analyze locomotion data from diverse species, revealing common features associated with dopamine deficiency. The study found that worms, mice, and humans exhibit similar movement disorders when lacking dopamine, despite their evolutionary differences.
A team of scientists found that people can adjust their walking efficiency automatically, even when distracted, without having to think about it. This ability allows for focus on other tasks while walking, such as tracking road bumps and managing daily life.
Researchers at Arizona State University studied the physics behind humans balancing coffee while walking, revealing a natural mode of flexibility that mimics human motion. The findings can be used to design smart robots to adaptively handle complex objects in changing environments.
Scientists from the University of Tsukuba analyzed video from top-level judo matches to systematically determine the aspects of posture that lead to success. The study found that the distance between competitors is a key factor in correct technique, which may assist in automating athletic training methods.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba reviewed the scientific literature on swimming hydrodynamics and identified key areas for improvement. They found that certain biomechanical aspects, such as velocity and drag forces, are not fully understood, but optimizing technique can lead to a competitive edge.
Research reveals that humans take shorter strides than chimpanzees due to reduced pelvic rotation, extending their stride by only 5.4 times compared to the mini wiggles performed when walking. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that humans have evolved the longest possible stride for efficiency.
Researchers found that emotion knowledge, cooperative social behavior, and locomotor activity are interrelated and associated with numerical skills in preschool children. These fundamental skills can promote numerical learning and suggest that locomotor activity should be added to early education.
A new study models the gait of Tyrannosaurus rex, revealing a preferred walking speed of 4.6 km/h, comparable to that of humans and other animals. The researchers applied resonance principles to the dinosaur's tail, which they found had a natural frequency, similar to a swing
Researchers measured grizzly bears' metabolic rates on flat and uphill gradients, finding they use less energy walking downhill. The study reveals why grizzlies often appear on human hiking trails, and provides insights for hiker safety.
A 4.4 million-year-old skeleton could show how early humans moved and began to walk upright, according to new research led by a Texas A&M University professor. The study found evidence of an 'evolutionary jump' between the hand of Ardi and all later hominin hands, including that of Lucy's species.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a soft robotic material that can walk at human speed, pick up cargo, and transport it to a new location. The material is activated by light and responds to external magnetic fields, making it ideal for use in aquatic environments.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have challenged long-held assumptions about how human sperm swim. Their groundbreaking study reveals significant differences between sperm movement and previously thought mechanisms, shedding new light on the complex biology of sperm motility.
A recent study found that children's motor skills are positively associated with activity and attention span persistence. Participation in organised sports also supports motor skill development. Parents and educators should be aware of individual factors like temperament traits to encourage motor skill growth.
Researchers at the University of Manchester developed a robot that uses perceptual control theory to balance and move efficiently. The study found that robots programmed with this theory performed better than those using standard algorithms, demonstrating potential for more lifelike machines.