Elastic strain energy storage in the feet of running monkeys |
| |
| Authors: | M. B. BENNETT R. F. KER and R. McN. ALEXANDER |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Leeds University, Leeds, W. Yorks. LS2 9JT |
| |
| Abstract: | Monkeys are 'flat–footed' in comparison to humans, but they are still able to utilize elastic strain energy stores in their feet to reduce the metabolic energy cost of running. During contact with the ground, bending moments act on the foot to produce a 'reversed arch', storing strain energy which is returned in the subsequent elastic recoil. This energy–saving mechanism has been investigated in dynamic bending tests and is discussed in relation to the arched foot of humans. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
