Hand walking is an unusual form of human locomotion

Gait (human)

Human gait is the way locomotion is achieved using human limbs. Different gaits are characterized by differences in limb movement patterns, overall velocity, forces, kinetic and potential energy cycles, and changes in the contact with the surface .- Foot strike :One variable in different gaits is...

 in which a person travels in a vertically inverted orientation with all body weight resting on the hand

Hand

A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...

s.
It can be executed with legs fully extended or with variations such as stag, straddle or front split

Split (gymnastics)

A split is a human body configuration in which the legs are parallel to each other and extended in opposite directions. Splits are performed in various athletic activities, including dance, figure skating, gymnastics, martial arts, contortionism, synchronized swimming, cheerleading and yoga...

s. Hand walking is performed in various athletic activities, including acro dance

Acro dance

Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements. It is defined by its athletic character, its unique choreography, which seamlessly blends dance and acrobatics, and its use of acrobatics in a dance context...

 and circus acrobatics

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...

.

Skills and technique

Hand walking is a skill that relies on a prerequisite ability to perform handstand

Handstand

A handstand is the act of supporting the body in a stable, inverted vertical position by balancing on the hands. In a basic handstand the body is held straight with arms and legs fully extended, with hands spaced approximately shoulder-width apart...

s, which in turn requires adequate upper body

Arm

In human anatomy, the arm is the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow joints. In other animals, the term arm can also be used for analogous structures, such as one of the paired forelimbs of a four-legged animal or the arms of cephalopods...

 pressing strength

Physical strength

Physical strength is the ability of a person or animal to exert force on physical objects using muscles. Increasing physical strength is the goal of strength training.-Overview:...

 in the deltoids and triceps as well as a heightened sense of balance

Balance (ability)

In biomechanics, balance is an ability to maintain the center of gravity of a body within the base of support with minimal postural sway. When exercising the ability to balance, one is said to be balancing....

 and spatial awareness. Because the body is inverted during hand walking, blood pressure in the brain is greater than normal.

As with other physical skills, one must practice hand walking in order to become proficient and develop adequate endurance. Handstands and hand walking are often learned at the same time because hand walking can be used to help maintain balance in a handstand before one learns to perform a stable handstand. Balance can also be maintained by varying the arch of the back.

In non-human animals

Some quadruped

Quadruped

Quadrupedalism is a form of land animal locomotion using four limbs or legs. An animal or machine that usually moves in a quadrupedal manner is known as a quadruped, meaning "four feet"...

s are able to walk bipedally on their forelimb

Forelimb

A forelimb is an anterior limb on an animal's body. When referring to quadrupeds , the term foreleg is often instead used....

s, thus performing "hand" walking in an anthropomorphic sense. For example, when attacked, the spotted skunk

Spotted Skunk

The Eastern Spotted Skunk is smaller and more weasel-like than the striped skunk. The spotted skunks are faster and more agile than the striped skunks and they have better pelts. For the last 100 years, the Eastern Spotted Skunk was bred for its fine silky fur...

 may rear up on its forelimbs so that its anal glands, capable of spraying an offensive oil, are directed towards the attacker. Dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

s can also be trained to walk on their forelimbs.

See also

• Animal locomotion
  Animal locomotion
  Animal locomotion, which is the act of self-propulsion by an animal, has many manifestations, including running, swimming, jumping and flying. Animals move for a variety of reasons, such as to find food, a mate, or a suitable microhabitat, and to escape predators...
  
  
• Terrestrial locomotion
• Johann Hurlinger
  Johann Hurlinger
  Johann Hurlinger was an Austrian man who walked on his hands from Paris to Vienna in 1900. Hurlinger walked on his hands 10 hours a day for 55 days. He averaged 1.58 miles per hour and traversed 870 miles.-References:...
  
  , Austrian man who walked on his hands from Paris to Vienna in 1900