The foot is among the features of the human body that displays the most radical adaptations for bipedal locomotion. We are investigating the adaptive functions of specific features, including the foot’s longitudinal arch and testing various models of arch function by comparing foot biomechanics in humans and chimpanzees. The Hominin Movement Lab is conducting experiments and developing musculoskeletal models to better understand intrinsic foot kinetics and muscle activation in these species.

These models will allow us to refine functional interpretations of specific skeletal features, explore previously intractable questions about soft tissue function in primate feet, and ultimately simulate locomotion in fossil hominins. This research will also have important implications for understanding foot pathology and gait disorders.

Holowka, N. B., Richards, A., Sibson, B. E., & Lieberman, D. E. (2021). The human foot functions like a spring of adjustable stiffness during running. Journal of Experimental Biology, 224, 19667. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.219667