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 and the legs together. There are many variations of handstands, all of which require the performer to possess adequate balance and upper body strength.
Kinematics
Handstands use the wrist flexor muscles as well as the
According to a 2017 study most handbalancers use wrist movement to maintain balance in a handstand.[3]
Another study found that handbalancers who were also expert gymnasts had better coordination than those at an intermediate level of gymnastics.[4] More advanced practitioners also altered their center of pressure less to change the center of mass when making corrections to handstand position.[5]
Handstand moves involving an especially high amount of strength include the press handstand[6][7] and handstand push-up.[8]
Types of activities that use handstands
Handstands are performed in many athletic activities, including
Handstands are known by various other names. In modern yoga as exercise, the handstand is called Adho Mukha Vrksasana.[9] In capoeira it is named bananeira.[10]
Yoga
In modern
Gymnastics
There are two basic handstand styles in modern gymnastics: curved-back and straight-back.[13] Straight-back style is employed when the aesthetics of straight body lines are desired and feasible. In many cases (e.g., when a handstand is being performed in conjunction with a gymnastic apparatus), however, the curved-back style is preferred as it offers superior control of the legs and torso over balance. In all cases, balance is maintained by shifting body weight towards the fingers or the heel of the hand.
All basic gymnastic handstands have these characteristics:
- Straight arms with hands placed on the ground approximately shoulder-width apart.
- Straight legs, held together.
- Pointed toes so as to continue the lines of the legs.
In addition, straight-back handstands have these characteristics:
- Tucked head (face pointed forward) as if standing upright.
- Straight spine, with hips pushed forward. If performed while lying flat, this would cause the small of the back to contact ground.
See also
- Hand balancing
- Hand walking
- Head stand
- List of asanas
References
- S2CID 207500662.
- S2CID 231576614.
- PMID 28791131.
- PMID 18986720.
- PMID 33432011.
- PMID 34260617.
- .
- S2CID 56807126.
- ^ "Adho Mukha Vrksasana". Yoga Vastu. October 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-58394-638-1.
- ISBN 978-0-02-863970-3.
- .
- ^ "Different Styles of Handstands". Retrieved 2010-09-29.
Further reading
- Gautier, G.; Thouvarecq, R.; Chollet, D. (2007). "Visual and postural control of an arbitrary posture: The handstand". Journal of Sports Sciences. 25 (11): 1271–1278. S2CID 37015380.