Penguins may have captivated me with their distinctive gait in their recent hit documentary, but it’s good to know that that unique waddle is more than charming. Researchers at the University of Houston are studying the animals’ tottering waddle-walk in hopes of understanding and treating numerous walking challenges.

Max Kurz, a professor of human performance at the University of Houston, is intrigued by penguins’ dramatic waddle. “If humans waddle too much they fall, but penguins somehow overcome this. They may have an elegant movement strategy for stability that we’re unaware of,” he said.

Understanding the way penguins walk may help scientists treat those who have difficulty walking like the elderly, people with leg or foot injuries, and toddlers taking their first steps.

“We can envision a scenario where the elderly may be able to put their walkers or canes down because they’ve learned to make the same adjustments in their walking patterns,” Kurz said. “This research may aid in developing a way to teach those people how to walk more efficiently despite their side-to-side motion, to learn the same kind of stability as the penguin.”

Do you think there’s enough attention given to the waddle? Do you know anyone who waddles? What about ducks? They waddle. I welcome your comments below.

[via University of Houston]

(Image: PBS.org)