Document Detail


Energetics of locomotion in African pygmies.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  2007399     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The energy cost of walking (Cw) and running (Cr), and the maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) were determined in a field study on 17 Pygmies (age 24 years, SD 6; height 160 cm, SD 5; body mass 57.2 kg, SD 4.8) living in the region of Bipindi, Cameroon. The Cw varied from 112 ml.kg-1.km-1, SD 25 [velocity (v), 4 km.h-1] to 143 ml.kg-1.km-1, SD 16 (v, 7 km.h-1). Optimal walking v was 5 km.h-1. The Cr was 156 ml.kg-1.km-1, SD 14 (v, 10 km.h-1) and was constant in the 8-11 km.h-1 speed range. The VO2max was 33.7 ml.kg-1.min-1, i.e. lower than in other African populations of the same age. The Cr and Cw were lower than in taller Caucasian endurance runners. These findings, which challenge the theory of physical similarity as applied to animal locomotion, may depend either on the mechanics of locomotion which in Pygmies may be different from that observed in Caucasians, or on a greater mechanical efficiency in Pygmies than in Caucasians. The low Cr values observed enable Pygmies to reach higher running speeds than would be expected on the basis of their VO2max.
Authors:
G Ferretti; G Atchou; B Grassi; C Marconi; P Cerretelli
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology     Volume:  62     ISSN:  0301-5548     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol     Publication Date:  1991  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1991-05-02     Completed Date:  1991-05-02     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0410266     Medline TA:  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol     Country:  GERMANY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  7-10     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Département de Physiologie, Centre Médical Universitaire, Genève, Switzerland.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Africa / epidemiology
Body Height / physiology
Body Weight / physiology
Dwarfism / epidemiology,  physiopathology*
Efficiency / physiology
Energy Metabolism / physiology*
European Continental Ancestry Group
Humans
Locomotion / physiology*
Male
Oxygen Consumption / physiology
Running

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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