Heel-striking gait gave early humans endurance but at the cost of impact shock

Researchers analyzing early human skeletal remains and biomechanics discovered that our ancestors relied on a heel-first walking pattern that allowed them to cover greater distances efficiently. However, this adaptation came with a significant cost: the repeated impact from landing on the heel with each step subjected their joints to considerable stress and wear. The finding highlights a fundamental trade-off in human evolutionary history between mobility and physical resilience.