Walking is regulated by environmental temperature.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms that regulate human walking are not fully understood, although there has been substantial research. In our study, we hypothesized that, although walking can be volitionally modified, it is also involuntary and controlled by evolutionary factors, such as the relationship between temperature and movement speed in poikilotherms. This study aimed to determine the effects of environmental temperature on speed, step length, and cadence during unrestrained walking over long periods. Customers of a private insurance company were asked to use a background smartphone GPS application that measured walking parameters. Participants were 1065 app users (298 men and 767 women) aged 14-86 years. Observed walking speed and cadence were higher in winter (average maximum temperature: 10.2 °C)

SUBMITTER: Obuchi SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8190034 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature