Size and Shape: Morphology's Impact on Human Speed and Mobility

Figure 1

Data points represent CoT values for individuals at their self-selected walking speeds. Males show a faster optimal walking speed (10.9%, 𝑃=0.019), higher minCoT (23.4%, 𝑃=0.002), and a more acute curve (22.1%, 𝑃=0.276) than female walkers. The vertical black lines that transect the best fit lines for each sex (red and blue) mark each sex's optimal speed (1.45 ms⁻¹ for males; 1.31 ms⁻¹ for females) and minCoT (274.7 Jm⁻¹ for males and 225.4 Jm⁻¹ for females). The female specific equation for CoT is CoT (Jm⁻¹)=132.9∗Speed² (ms⁻¹)−348.6∗Speed (ms⁻¹)+453.8. The male specific equation is CoT (Jm⁻¹)=178.7∗Speed² (ms⁻¹)−517.8∗Speed (ms⁻¹)+649.8.