Skipping without and with hurdles in bipedal macaque: global mechanics

Abstract

Macaques trained to perform bipedally used running gaits across a wide range of speed. At higher speeds they preferred unilateral skipping (galloping). The same asymmetric stepping pattern was used while hurdling across two low obstacles placed at the distance of a stride within our experimental track. In bipedal macaques during skipping, we expected a differential use of the trailing and leading legs. The present study investigated global properties of the effective and virtual leg, the location of the virtual pivot point (VPP), and the energetics of the center of mass (CoM), with the aim of clarifying the differential leg operation during skipping in bipedal macaques. Macaques skipping displayed minor double support and aerial phases during one stride. Asymmetric leg use was indicated by differences in leg kinematics. Axial damping and tangential leg work did not influence the indifferent peak ground reaction forces and impulses, but resulted in a lift of the CoM during contact of the leading leg. The aerial phase was largely due to the use of the double support. Hurdling amplified the differential leg operation. Here, higher ground reaction forces combined with increased double support provided the vertical impulse to overcome the hurdles. Following CoM dynamics during a stride skipping and hurdling represented bouncing gaits. The elevation of the VPP of bipedal macaques resembled that of human walking and running in the trailing and leading phases, respectively. Due to anatomical restrictions, macaque unilateral skipping differs from that of humans, and may represent an intermediate gait between grounded and aerial running.