Muybridge's photographs provided, for the first time, detailed visual records of the gaits of various animals and humans. This allowed scientists and anatomists to study the precise movements of limbs, joints, and muscles during locomotion.

His work laid the foundation for biomechanics and sports science by providing a method for analyzing movement. His images were used to improve athletic training techniques and understand the mechanics of human performance.

The Animal Locomotion plates were widely used as a reference in anatomical studies, allowing researchers to compare and contrast the skeletal and muscular systems of different species during movement.

Muybridge's work directly inspired other scientists, such as Étienne-Jules Marey, to develop chronophotography, a technique for capturing multiple frames of movement on a single photographic plate. This further advanced the study of motion.