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.
Researchers designed acoustically driven microrobots capable of fast unidirectional locomotion and surface slipping. The robots' thrust forces were significantly stronger than those of microorganisms, enabling deployment in the human vascular system for medical purposes.
Researchers aim to determine if short bursts of vigorous-intensity locomotor treadmill training can optimize motor learning and improve walking capacity, mobility, and performance for children with cerebral palsy. The study will enroll 72 participants aged 6-10 and assess the immediate and retention effects of the intervention.
Researchers at Tohoku University have cracked the code of centipedes' flexible motor control mechanism, enabling them to walk on land and swim in water. The study's findings will aid in developing robots that can adapt to various environments.
A new energy harvester captures biomechanical energy from walking and converts it to electricity, powering wearable electronics without increasing the wearer's burden. The device generates an average power of 1.6 mW, weighing only 307 grams.
Researchers at MIT and University of Illinois develop method to control balance in two-legged, teleoperated robot. The approach enables humanoid robots to exert force or push against something without falling, paving the way for high-impact tasks in challenging environments.
Finnish children from rural areas demonstrated better motor skills and spent more time outdoors than their urban counterparts. Participation in organized sports also supported motor development. The Skilled Kids study highlights the importance of environmental factors on childhood motor skills.
A study at the University of Jyväskylä found that girls had high perceptions of locomotor skills, while boys had higher perception and actual skills in ball skills. The study suggests that providing positive experiences of ball skills can encourage girls to engage in physical activity.
Scientists used a split-belt treadmill to study mouse locomotor learning and found that the brain separates spatial and temporal components of movement. The findings show similarities with human learning and suggest potential therapeutic approaches for people with asymmetric walking patterns.
University of Michigan researchers develop a novel approach to teaching self-driving cars to recognize and predict pedestrian movements. They achieve this by analyzing humans' gait, body symmetry, and foot placement using cameras, LiDAR, and GPS data. The system can predict poses and future locations for one or several pedestrians up t...
A study from Gero longevity company shows that quitting smoking can lead to rejuvenation that can be monitored by a mobile phone app. The app uses AI algorithm trained on physical activity signals to estimate biological age and track its reversion after smoking cessation.
A study by the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland reveals that plantar intrinsic muscles have a minimal impact on supporting the arch of the human foot during walking and running. However, these muscles are crucial for propelling forward motion.
Scientists discovered that mammals' flexible shoulders played a crucial role in the evolution of their complex backbones. The study found that changes in shoulder structure occurred around 270 million years ago, leading to the development of different spine regions and ultimately contributing to mammal diversification.
Researchers developed a software program that uses an avatar to predict energy expenditure during walking, considering parameters like stride length and foot lift. The tool has potential applications in designing custom exoskeletons and prosthetics to reduce user effort and optimize calorie burn.
New research reveals a dangerous midlife switch from daily activity to sedentary behavior, with black men and women at highest risk. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, calls for revised national physical activity guidelines to address this trend.
A recent study published in Science Advances analyzed the most complete foot of an ancient juvenile Australopithecus afarensis, discovered in Ethiopia. The findings suggest that the child spent more time in trees than adults, utilizing its backup plan to survive despite walking upright at a young age.
MIT engineers developed a simple, low-cost passive prosthetic foot that can be tailored to an individual's body weight and size, allowing for a more natural gait. The custom-designed prostheses use a design framework that predicts a user's biomechanical performance based on the mechanical design of the prosthetic foot.
A study examined human ancestors' walking and climbing capabilities, revealing that humans' straight-legged gait provides improved walking economy but also allows for enhanced hip extension. This enabled early hominins like Ardipithecus ramidus to develop a balance between improved walking economy and climbing ability.
A new machine learning algorithm allows for quick optimization of personalized control parameters for assistive wearable devices, achieving significant improvements in metabolic performance and reducing costs. Researchers achieved a 17.4% reduction in metabolic cost compared to walking without the device.
Researchers identified midbrain 'start neurons' that control locomotion speed and context-dependent behaviors. The study uses optogenetics to activate specific neuronal groups, revealing the complex role of the Cuneiform Nucleus and pedunculopontine nucleus in controlling locomotor movements.
For the first time, researchers have captured detailed information on human sleep cycles over long periods of time while individuals slumber at home. The wrist-worn gadget, called an actimeter, records data on wrist movement to assess rest/activity cycles during sleep.
Scientists at Southern Methodist University have discovered a new, more accurate way to predict how much energy a person uses while walking. The method, known as the Minimum Mechanics Model, relies on three variables: speed, load carried, and slope.
When two people walk one in front of the other while carrying a stretcher-like object, they typically synchronize their gaits. This synchronization is associated with quadrupedal gaits, particularly pacing and trotting. Mechanical coupling changes walking gaits, reducing step length and movement speed.
A robotic training method improves posture and walking in children with crouch gait by strengthening extensor muscles, particularly the soleus, against a downward pull. The device enhances muscle coordination, resulting in improved walking features such as step length and toe clearance.
New research found that feelings of power change people's non-verbal responses to dominance displays, such as a staring gaze. Participants who felt powerful moved closer to the gaze, while those in a powerless state moved away.
A study published in Science Robotics reveals that patients modify their walking patterns only when the robotic exoskeleton interferes with gait stability. The brain prioritizes stability over other aspects of walking, such as step height or toe angle, requiring customized forces to challenge balance.
A study using high-speed motion capture found that human feet are more mobile than expected, challenging long-held ideas about human-chimpanzee differences. This discovery may require rethinking assumptions about early human ancestor fossil feet.
Researchers discover that walking heel-to-toe creates a mechanical advantage by extending the length of 'virtual legs,' making them longer than physical legs. This adaptation allows humans to be efficient walkers.
A new study using CT scans of Lucy's bones reveals that she had heavily built upper limbs similar to chimpanzees, supporting the idea that she spent time climbing trees. The research suggests that Lucy may have nested in trees at night to avoid predators and spent one-third of her time above ground.
A new analysis of Lucy's skeleton suggests she frequently climbed trees using her arms to pull herself up. Her foot was better adapted for bipedal locomotion, resulting in more heavily built upper-limb bones.
Research reveals long projecting neurons coordinate fore- and hindlimb movements, maintaining stability and rhythm. Elimination of these neurons impairs running speed and coordination.
A team of scientists has restored intentional walking movement to a temporarily paralyzed leg in rhesus macaques using a wireless brain-spinal interface. The system uses signals recorded from the motor cortex of the brain to trigger coordinated electrical stimulation of nerves in the spine responsible for locomotion.
Researchers discovered multiple assemblages of Homo erectus footprints in northern Kenya, preserving evidence of a modern human style of walking and group structure consistent with human-like social behaviours. The findings provide direct insight into the locomotor patterns and group dynamics of our fossil ancestors.
Researchers studying infant locomotion have discovered common neural primitives used by humans and animals to walk. These findings could lead to new rehabilitation methods for patients with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.
A new computer processor designed specifically for robotic motion planning can plan movements up to 10,000 times faster than existing approaches while using significantly less power. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize robotics and automation in manufacturing environments.
Researchers found that female pelves widen with puberty, reaching full width by age 25-30, but then narrow again after menopause. Hormone levels drive this process, suggesting the body can modulate pelvic dimensions to ensure optimal childbirth.
A team of scientists identified a population of 'stop cells' in the brainstem that enable mice to halt their locomotion. These cells depress neuronal networks involved in generating locomotor rhythm, allowing animals to make graceful stops. The findings may provide insights into how locomotion is affected in diseases like Parkinson's.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a 'spring-mass' walking system that combines passive dynamics with computer control, allowing robots to blindly react to rough terrain and maintain balance. The technology has the potential to enhance legged robots and enable new roles in industries such as manufacturing and firefig...
Researchers at Oregon State University successfully field-tested a two-legged robot that can move, balance, and withstand mild blows while taking a walk in the grass. The 'ATRIAS' robot is three times more energy-efficient than other human-sized bipedal robots, heralding the running robots of the future.
A new unpowered ankle exoskeleton developed by Carnegie Mellon and North Carolina State researchers reduces the metabolic cost of walking by approximately 7%, equivalent to taking off a 10-pound backpack. The device uses a mechanical clutch to offload energy-consuming calf muscle forces, allowing individuals with mobility issues to wal...
Researchers at NC State University and Carnegie Mellon University developed a lightweight ankle exoskeleton that increases walking efficiency without using energy from batteries. The device reduces metabolic energy consumption by 7 percent, improving the 'gas mileage' of human walking.
Researchers found no correlation between hip width and efficient locomotion, debunking a long-held assumption that wider hips make women less efficient when walking and running. The study used biomechanical models to analyze the forces acting on the hips, revealing fundamental flaws in previous theories.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that when people walk in sync on a swaying bridge, they conserve energy and reduce their energy costs. By widening their stride, individuals can increase stability while also saving energy, which is equivalent to walking with or without a school backpack.
A UT Dallas professor applied robot control theory to create powered prosthetics that can dynamically respond to the wearer's environment, enabling amputees to walk at speeds of over 1 meter per second. The new approach simplifies the human gait cycle into a single variable, allowing for more stable and natural movement.
Researchers at Ohio State University have gained insight into how the body moves when walking by watching people walk naturally on a treadmill. They discovered that tiny variations in pelvis movement and foot placement can predict future steps with high accuracy.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University found that elite sprinters use a unique gait feature to maximize speed, delivering a firm and rapid punch to the ground upon contact. The study, which compared data from competitive sprinters to other fast-running athletes, suggests that there is only one way to achieve high speeds.
A new study by Liza Shapiro at the University of Texas at Austin contradicts earlier claims that quadrupedal humans are a product of backward evolution. The research, published in PLOS One, shows that people with Uner Tan Syndrome (UTS) walk on all fours but use lateral sequences, not diagonal patterns characteristic of nonhuman primates.
A Simon Fraser University study found that kangaroos employ a unique pentapedal gait, utilizing their tail in combination with front and hind legs to generate significant propulsive force. This discovery sheds light on the importance of timing and positioning during movement, particularly for individuals with mobility impairments.
A new study reveals that women with wider hips are more likely to have multiple sexual partners and engage in one-night stands. Hip width, rather than waist-to-hip ratio, is found to be a key predictor of a woman's sexual behavior.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding human walking by identifying two phases: alleviation and launching. The ankle tendons release stored elastic energy to propel the leg forward with minimal energy loss.
Researchers have discovered intricate neural networks in zebrafish that could help explain how humans developed limb control. The study found separate circuits for controlling the left and right sides of the body, which may be a precursor to human arm and leg movements.
New research shows that men slow down by 7% when walking with their female romantic partners, deviating from their optimal walking speed. This phenomenon suggests that males in mixed-sex groups may make energetic adjustments to accommodate their partner's pace, potentially influencing mobility and reproductive strategies.
Jeffrey M. Hausdorff, PhD, receives the GSA's Excellence in Rehabilitation of Aging Persons Award for his work on gait variability, motor-cognitive interactions and the assessment of fall risk. His research has led to the development of innovative rehabilitation programs, including a multi-modal treadmill training program that improves...
The shift from four-footed walking to bipedalism has resulted in various physical challenges, including flat feet, bunions, and slipped discs. As humans adapted to upright walking, the spine developed an S-shaped structure, leading to conditions like lordosis and scoliosis.
Researchers found that people naturally switch between walking and running when given optimal travel times, resulting in energy savings. The 'transition region' between 4.5-6.7 miles per hour showed consistent use of a mix of both gait patterns.
Researchers have developed a robotic set of legs that models human walking in a biologically accurate manner, allowing for insights into the processes underlying walking in humans. The robot's neural architecture and sensory feedback pathways mimic those found in humans, enabling it to walk without balance.
Research funded by the Wellcome Trust suggests that prosthetic lower limbs and robots' legs could be made more efficient by making them less human-like. The study found that people walking normally, women in high heels, and ostriches produce similar forces on the ground due to their unique gait patterns.
The discovery of a 3.4 million-year-old foot fossil in Ethiopia confirms the coexistence of two human ancestor species with different locomotion methods. The analysis suggests that more than one species existed between 3 and 4 million years ago, challenging previous assumptions about human evolution.
At around 2 meters per second, running makes better use of a key calf muscle than walking, increasing efficiency and conserving energy. This discovery sheds light on why speed walking is generally confined to the Olympics.