Legs and Hills
Abstract
Relatively longer leg length is a feature of the genus Homo that is often argued to have evolved due to selective pressures from a greater reliance on endurance running. Within the genus Homo, however, Neanderthals had relatively short legs with shorter tibiae – a characteristic that has been hypothesized to be a hindrance for running yet advantageous for locomoting on sloped terrains. This thesis tests three hypotheses relating to lower limb proportions and running performance: does morphological variability correspond with a) speed on flat and uphill terrain during a workout completed by cross-country athletes, or b) athletic performance during a 5-stage ultra-marathon, or c) lab measured running efficiency? The findings show no relationships, or weak non-significant relationships between leg length and crural index with measurements of athletic performance. This suggests that the variability in leg length among Homo sapiens does not have significant energetic consequences.