University of Jena researchers suggest skipping uses more energy than running

November 2, 2016

Skipping uses up about 24% more power than running at same speed
Adults need more energy to skip because power generation is costlier

Victoria Allen, Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published:
21:57 EDT, 1 November 2016

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Updated:
08:18 EDT, 2 November 2016

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Fear of appearing childish would seem to explain why adults don’t skip.

But scientists have come up with another explanation: skipping expends too much energy.

They have found out that it uses up about 24 per cent more power than running at the same speed.

Fear of appearing childish would seem to explain why adults don’t skip. But scientists have come up with another explanation: skipping expends too much energy. They have found out that it uses up about 24 per cent more power than running at the same speed

The researchers – from the University of Jena in Germany – suggest adults need more energy to skip because muscles like the gluteus maximus, which rotates the hip, do not have the long tendons found lower in the leg.

This makes power generation costlier than if it came from the ankle.

They added: ‘Alternative to walking and running, humans are able to skip. However, adult humans avoid it.

‘This fact seems to be related to the higher energetic costs associated with skipping. Still, children, some birds, lemurs and lizards use skipping gaits during daily locomotion.’

The study examined ten men skipping on a 40ft runway with reflective markers on their joints designed to fall off when the body became less stable.

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It identified a strategy for skipping efficiently by keeping the trailing leg, which lands first after jumping and propels the body, in a stiff posture.

This allows longer strides using the same amount of energy.

However, keeping the leading leg, which lands second and acts as a brake, in a slightly stiffer position also helps to cope with sudden drops.

The researchers suggest that adults need more energy to skip because muscles like the gluteus maximus, which rotates the hip, do not have the long tendons found lower in the leg