We're Built To Move at Different Speeds - Another Case for Developing Well-Rounded Fitness

FROM SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

An interesting short read. The study discussed here shows, in part, why having muscle that function at varying efficiencies at different speeds of locomotion can be an evolutionary plus.

 

Walking or running efficiently, your locomotor muscles might not agree

Humans walk well. More to the point, we walk EFFICIENTLY. As we evolved to walk upright, we also evolved to do so with great economy, expending fewer calories at an optimal walking pace, but then expending more calories when we either speed up or slow down. We also may be economically efficient runners as well as walkers, we’re average for mammals, but our long legs and ability for those legs to take repeated strain suggests we may be on the efficient end of primates (and we’re some of the BEST long distance runners on the planet, so we can preen a bit over that one). The jury is still out on running, but as far as walking goes we are the most efficient at a moderate speed (roughly 5 km/hr, or 3.1 miles/hour for men, a relatively brisk walk of 20 min a mile).

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