Handsupported

Handsupported is a term used in movement science and related disciplines to describe a position or activity in which the body’s weight or primary load is supported by the hands or forearms. It is commonly used as an adjective and, less often, as a noun phrase in clinical, athletic, and performing arts contexts.

In practice, handsupported tasks appear in physical therapy, athletic training, gymnastics, dance, and rehabilitative exercises. They include activities where the hands bear weight during movements such as weight-bearing on the hands (for example, supported planks or push-off variations), hand-supported positions in balance work, and upper-limb–driven transitions that require stability through the wrists and shoulders. Surfaces or props such as walls, bars, or mats are often used to provide initial support.

Benefits of handsupported work include strengthening and stabilizing the shoulder girdle, upper limbs, and core, as well as improving proprioception and control. It can also reduce loading on the lower body during rehabilitation. However, it increases stress on the wrists and forearms and demands good alignment and progressive loading to avoid overuse injuries. Practitioners emphasize proper technique, gradual progression, and appropriate surface selection.

Related terms include weight-bearing through the hands and upper-limb–driven support. Handsupported activities are typically described as part of broader conditioning, rehabilitation, or performance curricula, rather than as a standalone modality.