So I was going through my usual routine of science webpages and reached the livescience.com article on the effectiveness of human gaits . However, they dont mention the mechanics of this 'third gait' they talk about.

I cant find details anywhere.

 

Any thoughts? Sounds like something I would like to try.

Bend your knees and take long strides.

And, they report, a third walk-run gait is optimal for intermediate speeds, even though humans do not appear to take advantage of it.

 

The nature abstract says: "at intermediate speeds it finds a new pendular-running gait that includes walking and running as extreme cases."

 

I can't get at the article itself right now, but I tend to be suspicious of purely-model-based methods that do not empirically confirm their findings. Such tests would not be hard, either. You just need a respirometer and some volunteers.

 

Hopefully I can find the full-text later.

 

Mokele