Study Reveals Why Men and Women Walk Differently Due to Pelvic Evolution

A new study from Tel Aviv University's Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, published in Scientific Reports on August 26, 2026, reveals that the modern male pelvis evolved into a unique biomechanical system designed to absorb shocks and store energy during walking. Contrary to previous assumptions, it is the male pelvis, not the female pelvis, that underwent significant evolutionary changes. Researchers led by Prof. Yoel Rak, in collaboration with experts from Technion, Bar-Ilan University, and Ono Academic College, compared pelvises of Neanderthals with those of modern humans. Surprisingly, the Neanderthal male pelvis closely resembles that of modern human females rather than males.

The study found that the hip joints in modern men are positioned more anteriorly on the pelvic ring compared to women and Neanderthals. This shift creates a mechanical system where the front thigh muscles act like springs, absorbing the body's downward movement with each step and releasing elastic energy to propel the body forward. This adaptation provides men with a significant advantage in long-distance walking by conserving energy and improving efficiency. To support these new mechanical demands, the male pelvis also developed a thickened pubic bone and a deeper front pelvic section.

In contrast, women could not adopt these evolutionary changes due to childbirth constraints. The need to maintain a wide birth canal and a relatively shallow pelvis kept the female pelvis closer to the ancestral structure, similar to that of Neanderthal males. Prof. Ella Ben from Ono Academic College, a co-author, emphasized that understanding these mechanisms has important implications for biomechanics and musculoskeletal medicine today, aiding injury prevention and rehabilitation.

The research analyzed two nearly complete Neanderthal male pelvises, one from Kebara Cave in Israel and another from the Sima de los Huesos site in Spain, comparing them with dozens of modern human pelvises. Neanderthals coexisted with modern humans until about 35,000 years ago. While their pelvic structure was long considered an anomaly, this study shifts the perspective, highlighting the modern male pelvis as the evolutionary novelty.