Why do we move/swing our arms when we walk?

Question

......I've always wondered why.

Answer 1

Balance and stability. Your arms need to move in opposition- just like when you kick or throw a ball, you step forward with the opposite foot first, then kick or throw with dominant hand/foot.

Answer 2

balance


Human walking is accomplished with a strategy called the double pendulum. During forward motion, the leg that leaves the ground swings forward from the hip. This sweep is the first pendulum. Then the leg strikes the ground with the heel and rolls through to the toe in a motion described as an inverted pendulum. The motion of the two legs is coordinated so that one foot or the other is always in contact with the ground. The process of walking recovers approximately 60% of the energy used due to pendulum dynamics and ground reaction force.

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Answer 3

It's a matter of balance.
As a counterweight, the arm-swing helps balance our upright body while walking, jogging, and running.

Answer 4

Or maybe even a built in reflex from when we used to walk on all fours, because even if our arms dont swing we can still walk without falling.

Answer 5

This may be linked to the way our ancestors in the prehistoric time walked before developing into humans. Right hand moves with left leg and vice versa. Notice the movement of the cow goat etc.

Answer 6

It's natures way to help us keep our balance when we walk.

Answer 7

It counteracts the weight of our legs moving, our torso twists also.

Answer 8

We would look stupid if we did not. Seriously it is a momentum and balance thing

Answer 9

Why anything? Why climb Mount Everest? Why trans Antartica? Why climb Half-Dome?
Answer: To show people who don't that they are jerks.

Answer 10

when we walk we need to balance our stride. also when we run we do the same