Stabilization mechanism embedded in the foot musculoskeletal structure and the evolution of human bipedalism

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In this study, we try to clarify how the human foot mechanically interacts with the ground in a favorable manner to realize stable bipedal walking, and how the inherent structure of the foot musculoskeletal system possibly facilitates such mechanical interaction with the ground, for gaining some insights towards understanding the origin and evolution of human bipedal walking. Specifically, we have constructed a system to measure plantar shear force distribution during human walking and revealed details of shear force distribution in human walking. We also developed an anatomically-based foot musculoskeletal model to analyze how morphological characteristics of human foot affect the mechanical interaction between the foot and ground.