Published: 29 Sep 2016 | Last Updated: 29 Sep 2016 16:00:34

Have you ever wondered why you can’t walk and run as fast or efficiently as you can cycle? Or why small children and birds don’t run like adults or ostriches?

A new conceptual framework being developed at The Royal Veterinary College is approaching these issues by combining the mechanics of animal gaits with an understanding of why muscles use energy.

This 5 year project will test and expand the new framework using measurements of muscles and mechanics in running humans, birds and mice.