Analyzing Instantaneous Energy in Bipedal Walking of Baboons: A Model for Exploring the Evolutionary Transition Toward Efficient Bipedalism in Hominins

Abstract

Objective

Non-human primates exhibit bipedal walking with a typical “bent-hip, bent-knee” posture, incurring additional energy costs as shown by studies using electromyography and mechanical analysis. During the evolution of habitual bipedalism in hominins, this mode underwent a gradual refinement, culminating in the genus Homo. To explore energy conservation mechanisms and the influence of kinematics during occasional bipedal walking, we investigated energy dynamics within different body segments in an ontogenetic sample of baboons.

Materials and Methods

Kinematic and morphometric data from 17 baboons, including mature and immature individuals, were initially collected at the CNRS Primatology station (France). We calculated the potential and kinetic (rotational and translational) energies of various body segments over 40 strides, followed by a comparison with human data.

Results

Age-related kinematic differences influence energy recovery percentages in baboons, particularly in the shank and trunk segments. While significant differences can be observed between baboons and humans, such as in the trunk, arm, and foot segments, similarities exist in the thigh and shank segments, with the thigh being the primary segment for substantial energy transfer. Unlike humans, baboons lack an optimal speed range for energy recovery.

Discussion

We present a model for energy recovery in flexed bipedal walking. While baboon bipedalism is inefficient in energy recovery, minor trunk motion adjustments could greatly enhance efficiency. These subtle refinements have the potential to increase energy recovery rates, making bipedalism more practical for regular use. From an evolutionary perspective, such improvements would be particularly noteworthy considering other challenging activities like climbing and arboreal quadrupedalism.