Isn't it weird how we swing our arms about when we walk?

Question

Isn't it weird how we swing our arms about when we walk?

Answer 1

Try putting your right thumb in a back belt loop and putting your left thumb in a front belt loop while walking, then you will know what weird feels like.

Answer 2

no it help keeps your rythem and balance like if you step of a kerb

Answer 3

Have a star for this silly question that made me laugh!  Yes, it is funny and I wonder if it is something to do with balance.  I am usually unaware of my own arm swinging but, occasionaly, I think about it and try to stop but it's not easy.

Answer 4

swinging your arms can detrmin how fast you walk  if you want to walk faster your brain makes your arms swing more as it makes your legs go faster  as it is quicker for brain to send signals to arms than legs  or so i was told at school many yrs ago , funny that silly things stick around in my head yet still cant do sums lol

Answer 5

Surely - when you consider the balance aspect, it does tend to depend upon just __how much__ people 'swing their arms.'

I can't see anything 'weird' in it at all!

Try NOT 'swinging' (or moving) your arms at all.  You might manage it for a short time  ...but.

Sash.

Answer 6

Humans swing their arms as a part of bipedal locomotion (walking on two legs).  Walking is actually a very efficient mode of transport because are bodies are naturally swinging themselves forward with each step, like a pendulum.  The swinging arms act to both keep the balance and focus the force of the walk - both of which have already been provided as answers.  

If you really want to get into the kinematics of walking, there are a lot of articles you can find through Google - unforutnately they are often very scientific and tough for the average reader to understand - for example http://www.liv.ac.uk/premog/PDFs/armswin...

Answer 7

Everyone mentions balance, but a more important aspect of  swinging the arms is to add to the force applied in your walk.  By swinging your arms, the force of swinging the arms puts force on your torso.  This force partially pushes against (actually adds to the force by providing a stabilizing force) the force on the torso produced by the legs.  If you try to run without swinging your arms, you will quickly realize the benefit of the extra force that the arms provide.  Notice that the arms always move in opposition to the leg beneath it.

Answer 8

yea its weirdd i wonder why we do that

Answer 9

Yes it is odd.  Imagine how funny we'd look if we didn't!

Answer 10

NO

Answer 11

I think its about balance. Men are the main swingers maybe if they didnt do it they would fall flat on their faces because of the weight of their heads

Answer 12

yeah i suppose it is,is it ment to help us balance or sumfin?!

Answer 13

No...  It looks weirder when people have their arms straight down.

Answer 14

yes,,,,but dont you think that pigeons are even weirder....jerking their heads back and forth as they walk.