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Story
January 4, 1917
The Daily Progressive Miner
Ketchikan, Alaska
What is this article about?
This article discusses why humans, unlike animals, rarely stand perfectly upright on two legs for long, as it causes tiring muscle strain; instead, they rest on one leg, shifting weight alternately.
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Full Text
WHY WE REST
UPON ONE LEG
Man, we are told in our school books,
is distinct from other animals for the
reason—because he stands upright up-
on two legs instead of traveling upon
all fours. But if you watch yourself
or other persons you will notice that
it is unusual for people to rest upon
two legs. Nearly always we are stand-
ing on one leg and resting the other
one. Practice will prove that to stand
with the weight nearly equally divid-
ed upon the two legs is tiring.
Even in the army, where comfort is
always sacrificed to trim appearance,
the command, "Stand at ease," which
allows the soldiers to throw one leg
back and prop themselves upon it,
shows how impossible a perfectly up-
right position is to maintain for any
length of time.
Standing perfectly upright can be
done only by a very complicated cross
strain, one set of muscles pushing for-
ward. another holding back. With
every movement we make a new ad-
justment of these muscles takes place.
The trouble is all with our hip bones.
Therefore, to rest these muscles we
place one of them at rest by throwing
one leg to one side, allowing the other
to do the work. When one leg is
rested sufficiently it takes up the strain
and the other takes a spell. Nor does
it matter how much we strengthen our
leg muscles by walking or other exer-
cises. the perfectly upright position
is still a hard one to keep.
UPON ONE LEG
Man, we are told in our school books,
is distinct from other animals for the
reason—because he stands upright up-
on two legs instead of traveling upon
all fours. But if you watch yourself
or other persons you will notice that
it is unusual for people to rest upon
two legs. Nearly always we are stand-
ing on one leg and resting the other
one. Practice will prove that to stand
with the weight nearly equally divid-
ed upon the two legs is tiring.
Even in the army, where comfort is
always sacrificed to trim appearance,
the command, "Stand at ease," which
allows the soldiers to throw one leg
back and prop themselves upon it,
shows how impossible a perfectly up-
right position is to maintain for any
length of time.
Standing perfectly upright can be
done only by a very complicated cross
strain, one set of muscles pushing for-
ward. another holding back. With
every movement we make a new ad-
justment of these muscles takes place.
The trouble is all with our hip bones.
Therefore, to rest these muscles we
place one of them at rest by throwing
one leg to one side, allowing the other
to do the work. When one leg is
rested sufficiently it takes up the strain
and the other takes a spell. Nor does
it matter how much we strengthen our
leg muscles by walking or other exer-
cises. the perfectly upright position
is still a hard one to keep.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Medical Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Human Posture
Upright Standing
Muscle Strain
One Leg Rest
Hip Bones
Story Details
Story Details
Explains why humans rest on one leg due to tiring muscle strain in perfectly upright position on two legs, comparing to animals and noting army practices.