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. 1977 Jun;268(2):467–481. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp011866

Mechanical work and efficiency in level walking and running

G A Cavagna 1,2, M Kaneko 1,2,*
PMCID: PMC1283673  PMID: 874922

Abstract

1. The mechanical power spent to accelerate the limbs relative to the trunk in level walking and running, Ẇint, has been measured at various `constant' speeds (3-33 km/hr) with the cinematographic procedure used by Fenn (1930a) at high speeds of running.

2. Ẇint increases approximately as the square of the speed of walking and running. For a given speed Ẇint is greater in walking than in running.

3. In walking above 3 km/hr, Ẇint is greater than the power spent to accelerate and lift the centre of mass of the body at each step, Ẇext (measured by Cavagna, Thys & Zamboni, 1976b). In running Ẇint < Ẇext up to about 20 km/hr, whereas at higher speeds Ẇint > Ẇext.

4. The total work done by the muscles was calculated as Wtot = ǀWintǀ + ǀWextǀ. Except that at the highest speeds of walking, the total work done per unit distance Wtot/km is greater in running than in walking.

5. The efficiency of positive work was measured from the ratio Wtot/Net energy expenditure: this is greater than 0·25 indicating that both in walking and in running the muscles utilize, during shortening, some energy stored during a previous phase of negative work (stretching).

6. In walking the efficiency reaches a maximum (0·35-0·40) at intermediate speeds, as may be expected from the properties of the contractile component of muscle. In running the efficiency increases steadily with speed (from 0·45 to 0·70-0·80) suggesting that positive work derives mainly from the passive recoil of muscle elastic elements and to a lesser extent from the active shortening of the contractile machinery. These findings are consistent with the different mechanics of the two exercises.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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