Anthropological studies of the maturation and degenerative change of the walking ability.

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This research project aimed to reveal changes of the walking ability from the morphophysiological view point. Nakano inveatigated the phylogenetical maturation of the walking ability by the analysis of the human restricted walking as the model of the walking of the fossil hominids. Kumakura et al. recorded the three-dimensional motion of the foot in the human infant and non-human primate species and considered the maturation of the bipedal walk. Yamazaki simulated the age related change of the human bipedal walk by using his neuro-musculo-skeletal model. These changes of the motor function in the ontogenetic and phylogenetic context are supported by the morphological changes. To investigate human morphophysiology, the primates should be good model of the human. Kunimatsu evaluated the epiphysieal union of the limb bones in the squirrel monkey and analyzed those against their dental age. Nakatsukasa described the age related change of the articular surfaces of the limb bones, which well reflected the motor abiloty, in Japanese macaques. Fujino pointed out that the age related changes of the bone caused the remodelling of the muscle fibers, and discussed on the functional meanings of the muscle architecture in the ontogenetic and phylogenetic maturation. In the later phase of the life cycle, degenerative change of the motor system would force to adjust the functional change. Adachi et al. analyzed the three-dimensional motion of the lower limb in the aged human. Maie analyzed foot trace to reveal the characteristics of the walk in aged peoples. These aging of the walking ability correlated to the morphological degenerative changes. Takahashi and Yamashita investigated the age related change of the humeruas and femur in modern Japanese population. Ito investigated the age related changes of the human muscular weight in the lower limbs. He also preliminary reported the histological aspect of the aged modern Japanese.