Why Do Men and Women Walk Differently? The Answer May Lie With Neanderthals

Differences in how modern men and women walk might be explained by the pelvic structure of Neanderthals, according to new research. Scientists compared the anatomy of prehistoric Neanderthal pelves with that of contemporary humans, identifying significant variations that could shed light on the evolution of human locomotion.

The study, detailed by Sci.News, involved analyzing a nearly complete Neanderthal pelvis, Kebara 2, discovered in the 1980s in Kebara Cave, Israel. This was compared with a Neanderthal pelvis from Sima de los Huesos in Spain and pelves from 63 modern men and 28 modern women. Researchers focused on the positioning of the hip joints.

In modern men, the hip joints are positioned more forward in the pelvis, and they possess a shorter, thicker superior pubic ramus. Neanderthal males, conversely, had hip joints situated further back, with a longer, thinner pubic ramus, a configuration similar to that found in modern women. Researchers theorize that the forward shift of hip joints in modern men may have transformed the pelvis into a natural shock absorber.

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Characteristica geometria współczesnej męskiej miednicy pozwala mięśniom uda lepiej amortyzować opadanie ciała. Co więcej, energia powstająca podczas tego ruchu może być częściowo magazynowana, a następnie wykorzystywana przy kolejnym kroku.

Professor Yoel Rak from Tel Aviv University explained that this geometric adaptation in the male pelvis allows thigh muscles to better cushion the body's descent with each step. Furthermore, the energy generated during this movement can be partially stored and reused for the next step, enhancing walking efficiency, particularly over long distances. The study suggests modern women may have retained a more ancestral pelvic structure, possibly due to the biomechanical demands of childbirth, where a narrower or deeper pelvis could complicate delivery.

Understanding these evolutionary changes in human gait mechanics could significantly aid contemporary research in biomechanics, musculoskeletal function, and the causes of overuse injuries. The findings were published on July 31 in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Kobiety mogły zachować bardziej pierwotną budowę miednicy ze względu na wymagania związane z porodem. Zwężenie lub pogłębienie miednicy mogłoby bowiem utrudnić przejście dziecka przez kanał rodny.