Braaaiiinnnsss!: From Academics to Zombies

And the Dead Shall Walk, But How?

209 And the Dead Shall Walk, but How? Anthony Tongen, Caitlin V. Johnson and Sean M. Francis Introduction The key term in the title is walk; zombies cannot run! (Brooks 2003, 13). Therefore, to better equip the reader for a zombie attack , we will dissect (not literally) the walking behaviour of a zombie from a biomechanical viewpoint. During a zombie attack , instead of wondering about your chances of survival, you should ask, “Is it possible to outrun a zombie?” or “Is it better to run uphill or downhill?” or “Will the zombie jump over this fairly low obstacle?” This chapter will better equip you to escape a pursuing zombie. We will also consider the intriguing question , from a biomechanical framework, of whether or not Frankenstein is a zombie. Interestingly, if Frankenstein is a zombie, then we need to be able to outmanoeuvre him; however, if Frankenstein is not a zombie, then he is susceptible to a zombie bite and can become a zombie. Therefore, we might need to outmanoeuvre a creature that will hereafter be referred to as Zombiestein. Biomechanics is the study of the mechanics of a living (or possibly reanimated) organism; particularly, it examines how And the Dead Shall Walk, but How? 210 external forces such as muscles, gravity and decaying limbs affect the skeletal structure. The unusual form of movement of zombies and Frankenstein is one of their striking characteristics ; their unusual gait provides an excellent opportunity to examine limb use during locomotion. From a biomechanical standpoint, the following information is important for our study of zombies. Zombies have, literally, no physical sensations. All nerve receptors throughout the body remain dead after reanimation.… Undead physiology has been proven to possess no powers of regeneration .… This inability to self-repair, something that we as living beings take for granted, is a severe disadvantage to the undead.… Ghouls [zombies] possess the same brute force as the living.… The one solid advantage the living dead do possess is amazing stamina. Imagine working out, or any other act of physical exertion. Chances are that pain and exhaustion will dictate limits. These factors do not apply to the dead. They will continue to act, with the same dynamic energy, until the muscles supporting it literally disintegrate .… The “walking” dead tend to move at a slouch or limp. Even without injuries or advanced decomposition, their lack of coordination makes for an unsteady stride. Speed is mainly determined by leg length. Taller ghouls have longer strides than their shorter counterparts. Zombies appear to be incapable of running. The fastest have been observed to move at a rate of barely one step per 1.5 seconds. Again, as with strength, the dead’s advantage over the living is their tirelessness. Humans who believe they have outrun their undead pursuers might do well to remember the story of the tortoise and the hare, adding, of course, that in this instance the hare stands a good chance of being eaten alive.… The average living human possesses a dexterity level 90% greater than the strongest ghoul. Some of this comes from the general stiffness of necrotic muscle tissue (hence their awkward stride).… No one has ever observed a zombie jumping or swimming. (Brooks 2003, 9–14) Human locomotion is unique within the animal world in that we move on two extended legs. Human gaits can be described using a few simple terms, which are also illustrated in Figure 16.1. The gait cycle consists of two phases, stance phase (A-E) Anthony Tongen, Caitlin V. Johnson and Sean M. Francis 211 and swing phase. Stance phase begins with a touchdown when the heel strikes the ground (stage A). At heel strike, the centre of gravity of the body is at its lowest point. At mid-stance, where the hip is directly over the knee and ankle, the centre of gravity is at its highest (stage C). The centre of gravity falls in the second half of the stance phase that ends with toe-off (stage E). The period from the touchdown of a limb to the subsequent touchdown of the same limb is called a stride. Speed or velocity is the amount of time it takes an individual to go a particular distance. In general, animals and people shorten the stance phase to increase speed. At higher speeds, humans change from a walking gait to a running gait in which there is a period when no...