New study explains why men and women walk differently
A new study by Tel Aviv University's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, published in Scientific Reports, offers a novel explanation for differences in walking between men and women. Researchers compared Neanderthal pelvises to those of modern humans and found that the male pelvis evolved into a unique biomechanical mechanism for shock absorption, energy storage, and efficient long-distance walking. In contrast, the female pelvis remained closer to the ancestral structure due to childbirth constraints.
A new study by Tel Aviv University's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, published in Scientific Reports, offers a novel explanation for one of the most noticeable differences between women and men: the way the modern human pelvis evolved. By comparing Neanderthal pelvises with those of contemporary humans, researchers concluded that the unusual structure is not that of the Neanderthal, as believed for decades, but rather that of the modern human male. They argue that the male pelvis evolved over time into a unique biomechanical mechanism designed to absorb shock, store energy, and make long-distance walking more efficient. The study, led by Prof. Yoel Rak from Tel Aviv University's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, in collaboration with researchers from Spain, the Technion, Bar-Ilan University, and the Ono Academic College, was based on a comparison between two nearly complete pelvises of male Neanderthals – from Kebara Cave in Israel and the Sima de los Huesos site in Spain – and dozens of pelvises of modern humans. Despite their large size and massive structure, the Neanderthal pelvises were found to resemble the pelvises of modern women in most measures, rather than those of men. The key finding is that the hip joints of modern human males are positioned more anteriorly on the pelvic ring, creating a new mechanical system in which the anterior thigh muscles act like a spring. The female pelvis remained closer to the ancestral structure due to childbirth constraints. The researchers emphasize that this is a new biomechanical model that may explain a significant portion of the dimorphism between women and men in pelvic structure.