Abstract
The human body is a dynamic system with dynamic behaviour. Linear and nonlinear models of a standing human are investigated. The models simulated the body by 15‐lumped masses connected by springs and dampers. A square wave impulse input is applied at the shoes and the lumbar spine response is presented as an example. The results show that the mechanical response is affected by the kind of representation (linear or nonlinear model) and the shoes stiffness and damping coefficients.