Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.
Compr Physiol. 2012 Jan;2(1):537-62. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c110007.
Human muscles, limbs and supporting ventilatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems are well adapted for walking, and there is reasonable transfer of efficiency of movement to bicycling. Our efficiency and economy of movement of bipedal walking (≈30%) are far superior to those of apes. This overall body efficiency during walking and bicycling represents the multiplicative interaction of a phosphorylative coupling efficiency of ≈60%, and a mechanical coupling efficiency of ≈50%. These coupling efficiencies compare well with those of other species adapted for locomotion. We are capable runners, but our speed and power are inferior to carnivorous and omnivorous terrestrial mammalian quadrupeds because of biomechanical and physiological constraints. But, because of our metabolic plasticity (i.e., the ability to switch among carbohydrate (CHO)- and lipid-derived energy sources) our endurance capacity is very good by comparison to most mammals, but inferior to highly adapted species such as wolves and migratory birds. Our ancestral ability for hunting and gathering depends on strategy and capabilities in the areas of thermoregulation, and metabolic plasticity. Clearly, our competitive advantage of survival in the biosphere depends in intelligence and behavior. Today, those abilities that served early hunter-gatherers make for interesting athletic competitions due to wide variations in human phenotypes. In contemporary society, the stresses of regular physical exercise serve to minimize morbidities and mortality associated with physical inactivity, overnutrition, and aging.
人类的肌肉、四肢和支持呼吸、心血管和代谢的系统非常适合行走，并且有合理的运动效率转移到骑自行车上。我们双足行走的效率和经济性（≈30%）远远优于猿类。这种行走和骑自行车的全身效率代表了磷酸化偶联效率（≈60%）和机械偶联效率（≈50%）的乘积相互作用。这些偶联效率与其他适应运动的物种相当。我们是有能力的跑步者，但由于生物力学和生理学的限制，我们的速度和力量不如肉食性和杂食性陆地哺乳动物四足动物。但是，由于我们的代谢灵活性（即能够在碳水化合物（CHO）和脂质衍生的能源之间切换），与大多数哺乳动物相比，我们的耐力能力非常好，但不如像狼和候鸟这样高度适应的物种。我们祖先的狩猎和采集能力取决于在体温调节和代谢灵活性方面的策略和能力。显然，我们在生物圈中的生存竞争优势取决于智慧和行为。今天，由于人类表型的广泛差异，那些早期狩猎采集者的能力为有趣的运动竞赛提供了条件。在当代社会，定期体育锻炼的压力有助于最大限度地减少与身体活动不足、营养过剩和衰老相关的发病率和死亡率。
