# Hand walking > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hand_walking > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hand_walking.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_walking > Source revision: 1319884651 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Form of human locomotion with all body weight resting on the hands}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2020}} [[File:HandWalking.gif|thumb|120px|An [acro dance](/source/acro_dance)r handwalks across the stage.]] '''Hand walking''' is an unusual form of [human locomotion](/source/gait_(human)) in which a person travels in a vertically inverted orientation with all body weight resting on the [hand](/source/hand)s. It can be executed with legs fully extended or with variations such as stag, straddle or front [split](/source/split_(gymnastics))s. Hand walking is performed in various athletic activities, including [acro dance](/source/acro_dance) and [circus](/source/circus_(performing_art)) [acrobatics](/source/acrobatics). ==Skills and technique== Hand walking is a skill that relies on a prerequisite ability to perform [handstand](/source/handstand)s, which in turn requires adequate [upper body](/source/arm) pressing [strength](/source/physical_strength) in the [deltoids](/source/deltoids) and [triceps](/source/triceps) as well as a heightened sense of [balance](/source/Balance_(ability)) and [spatial awareness](/source/spatial_awareness). Because the body is inverted during hand walking, blood pressure in the brain is greater than normal. Hand walking often elicits automatic, alternating leg movements similar to upright bipedal locomotion. Research shows that these leg movements are caused in part by neural coupling between arm and legs.{{cite journal |last1=Sylos-Labini |first1=Francesca |title=Locomotor-Like Leg Movements Evoked by Rhythmic Arm Movements in Humans |journal=PLOS ONE |publisher=PLOS |date=7 March 2014|volume=9 |issue=3 |article-number=e90775 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0090775 |pmid=24608249 |pmc=3946538 |bibcode=2014PLoSO...990775S |doi-access=free }} 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](/source/quadruped)s are able to walk [bipedal](/source/bipedal)ly on their [forelimb](/source/forelimb)s, thus performing "hand" walking in an [anthropomorphic](/source/anthropomorphic) sense. For example, when attacked, the [spotted skunk](/source/spotted_skunk) may rear up and move about on its forelimbs so that its anal glands, capable of spraying an offensive oil, are directed towards the attacker. [Dog](/source/Dog)s, [cat](/source/cat)s and [sea lions](/source/sea_lions) can also be trained to walk on their forelimbs. ==See also== *[Animal locomotion](/source/Animal_locomotion) *[Terrestrial locomotion](/source/Terrestrial_locomotion) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Locomotion}} {{Walking}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Walking}} Category:Circus skills Category:Bodyweight exercises Category:Terrestrial locomotion Category:Gymnastics elements Category:Acro dance moves --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hand walking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_walking) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_walking?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.