Understanding Muscle Energetics in Locomotion

In Brief Recent estimates of muscle energy consumption during locomotion, based on computational models and muscle blood flow measurements, demonstrate complex patterns of energy use across the gait cycle, which are further complicated when task demands change. A deeper understanding of muscle energetics in locomotion will benefit from efforts to more tightly integrate muscle-specific approaches with organismal measurements. Integrating muscle-specific and organismal measurements reveals complex patterns of muscle energy use in locomotion.