Walking and Fourier analysis

One of the distinct human characteristics is bipedalism. This means of locomotion has existed throughout human history for more than three and a half million years ago judging from the fossilized footprints at Laetoli in northern Tanzania (Leakey, 1987). Scholars throughout the world have long been interested in human bipedal locomotion and have attempted to analyze it by various means.

Dimensional measurements

To understand the nature of human locomotion, we must recognize that the walking cycle which is composed of dimensional and temporal measurements. Figure 12.1 illustrates the components making up the walking cycle. These dimensional measurements are composed of both right and left step lengths, foot angles, and step widths. A step length is defined as the distance from one heel point to the other; for example, the right step length is expressed as the distance from the left heel point to the right heel point. Foot angle is defined as the angle of a foot from a center line drawn between both feet. Step width is the distance between right and left heel points normal to the center line.

Temporal measurements

Walking is the repeated alternation of one leg followed by the other, with one limb remaining in contact with the ground.