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Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Granatosky, MC; Bryce, CM; Hanna, J; Fitzsimons, A; Laird, MF; Stilson, K; Wall, CE; Ross, CF
Published in: Proceedings. Biological sciences
December 2018

Speed-related gait transitions occur in many animals, but it remains unclear what factors trigger gait changes. While the most widely accepted function of gait transitions is that they reduce locomotor costs, there is no obvious metabolic trigger signalling animals when to switch gaits. An alternative approach suggests that gait transitions serve to reduce locomotor instability. While there is evidence supporting this in humans, similar research has not been conducted in other species. This study explores energetics and stride variability during the walk-run transition in mammals and birds. Across nine species, energy savings do not predict the occurrence of a gait transition. Instead, our findings suggest that animals trigger gait transitions to maintain high locomotor rhythmicity and reduce unstable states. Metabolic efficiency is an important benefit of gait transitions, but the reduction in dynamic instability may be the proximate trigger determining when those transitions occur.

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Published In

Proceedings. Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

December 2018

Volume

285

Issue

1893

Start / End Page

20181766

Related Subject Headings

  • Walking
  • Running
  • Mammals
  • Gait
  • Birds
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences
 

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Granatosky, M. C., Bryce, C. M., Hanna, J., Fitzsimons, A., Laird, M. F., Stilson, K., … Ross, C. F. (2018). Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 285(1893), 20181766. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.1766
Granatosky, Michael C., Caleb M. Bryce, Jandy Hanna, Aidan Fitzsimons, Myra F. Laird, Kelsey Stilson, Christine E. Wall, and Callum F. Ross. “Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds.Proceedings. Biological Sciences 285, no. 1893 (December 2018): 20181766. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.1766.
Granatosky MC, Bryce CM, Hanna J, Fitzsimons A, Laird MF, Stilson K, et al. Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds. Proceedings Biological sciences. 2018 Dec;285(1893):20181766.
Granatosky, Michael C., et al. “Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds.Proceedings. Biological Sciences, vol. 285, no. 1893, Dec. 2018, p. 20181766. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.1766.
Granatosky MC, Bryce CM, Hanna J, Fitzsimons A, Laird MF, Stilson K, Wall CE, Ross CF. Inter-stride variability triggers gait transitions in mammals and birds. Proceedings Biological sciences. 2018 Dec;285(1893):20181766.
Journal cover image

Published In

Proceedings. Biological sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

December 2018

Volume

285

Issue

1893

Start / End Page

20181766

Related Subject Headings

  • Walking
  • Running
  • Mammals
  • Gait
  • Birds
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Animals
  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 30 Agricultural, veterinary and food sciences