INTRODUCTION

"Balance and posture of the body are considered essential to most human locomotion" (Winter, 1990). If balance and posture affect normal human locomotion, how do patterns of gait change with an inverted gait (walking on hands)? We will attempt to analyze balance, stride length, and changes in center of mass to determine differences and similarities in patterns of inverted gait with legs extended as opposed to flexed.

The purpose of our analysis is to determine the kinematic differences in patterns of inverted gait due to balance, stride length, and changes in center of mass. These factors may play an important role in acrobatic performances used by divers, circus performers and gymnasts.