Why do hounds run faster than people?

Hounds are super great runners due to their special body structure and ability to handle curves without slowing down.

British researchers say, unlike humans who must decelerate at curves to withstand the increased gravity and radial force in their legs, the hound can cross the curve without changing. stride.

Zoologist James Usherwood of the Royal Veterinary University in England said: "It's amazing to know that hunting dogs are not limited by what humans suffer ".

Usherwood and colleagues analyzed the gaits of 40 hunting dogs as they ran in straight lines and through narrow curves.

The sprinters in the inner lane often suffer a little disadvantage because their crabs are smaller than those in the outside lane. For this reason, the International Athletics Federation has abandoned the indoor sprint competition by narrow curves.

But hounds still keep their strides steady even on straight lines or curves, and fully withstand 65% of the increase in force on the limbs.

" This supports the hypothesis that hunting dogs create torque movement around the hips, so - just like in cyclists - the muscles that make up the power are completely separated from body weight. " , Usherwood explains.

Horses, hares and hounds all have a top speed of about 17 meters per second, almost double the speed of a human.

" The fundamental difference in the speed limits of four-legged animals and humans is very important in understanding the mechanical limitations and differences between animals ," Wilson said.