Why do most of us humans swing our arms while walking? Balance?

Question

Is it a learned action or innate?

Answer 1

They act as counter balances for the legs and help to maintain an steady posture while walking. If you don't move your arms, the shifting of weight as you walk will cause more movement of the head and subsequently the balance region of the ear. It is also wasteful of energy, as the weight then has to be moved back. By using your arms, this is minimised.

It is natural to try to reduce movement of the head, this is why you swing your left arm in time with the right leg, and vice-versa. These movements are handled by the cerebellum, a specialised area of the brain. To do otherwise, that is, to square-gait, seems awkward because your head moves from side to side.

Answer 2

Helps keep balance same as valgus.

Answer 3

Depends on the situation you are observing.  Not all humans swing their hands. The action is in response to the movement of your center of gravity being pushed ahead of you.  Most people when they walk put their weight on the foot that is in the air, about to be planted on the ground.  Talk about being confident of your surroundings.  Yet when we stalk, like when I was on patrol in the Corps, my weight was centered on the foot firmly planted, while the other foot probed about without the need of my eyes.  This required no arm movement, and in the right terrian, is just as fast as normal walking.  Also note that it differs between the genders.  For men, our center of gravity is higher (residing in our shoulders) whereas for women it is lower (their hips).  This dramatically affects the arcing of the arm swing when walking.  People who are obese also have a dramatically different swing, from side to side not front to back, as their weight obstructs proper locomtion. So this is a balance issue, but it is also habitual.  Like I said, if you walk with the weight place firmly on the planted foot, and then transition, you don't swing your arms and you are far more stealthy.

Answer 4

I think this is because most people feel uncomfortable and have to occupy their hands with something to look more comfortable... I do that anyways haha.

Its gives their hands something to do.

Answer 5

Have you ever seen someone walking down the street with their arms straight down to the sides not moving at all.  How does that look?  That's why people swing their arms.