Angle in elbow joint when in HS

[Daniel Stephan 17]

Hello!

When I do a handstand, there is always an angle in my elbow (I've attached a picture of my handstand and integrated some lines to visualize what I mean). My forearm is parallel to my back, but my upper arm is inclined.

I don't see that same angle in top handbalancers like Yuval Ayalon for example.

 

So I'm curious what exactly causes this, is it a matter of insufficient shoulder flexion, different elbow rotation, too much protraction of the scapula or some other reason?

 

 

[Alessandro Mainente 10,538]

high level of protraction gives the same level of visual impact, to be sure that it is not the case of poor flexion you can follow step by step the H1 approach

[Daniel Stephan 17]

Thanks for the quick answer!

The funny thing is, when I do shoulder flexions, that angle doesn't seem to be there despite protracting.

 

Should I focus more on elevation and not so much protraction while in a handstand? Would that be working towards fixing the angle?

[Alessandro Mainente 10,538]

both of them

[Farid Mirkhani 95]

For me, my arms straightened out as my flexibility (active/passive) got better.

[Christoph Pahl 25]

Hmm, isn't this simply simply a hyperextended elbow... which either you have, either you haven't - and that fact you cannot change I read here??

[David McManamon 130]

Your pictures are from the wrong angle, the elbow is a hinge joint and fully extended is different for everyone.  Many excellent gymnasts and hand-balancers have arms that extend past straight.  Watch Raw-Art "Question" on Youtube to see someone with more elbow mobility than Yuval.  

This article shows the photo angle that would be more useful to see what your fully extended arm looks like:

http://balletshoesandbobbypins.com/double-jointed-the-real-story

[Biren Patel 472]

Oh no! the Raw-Art series. Featuring angsty, melancholic eastern europeans handbalancing to sad music

In seriousness though, that guy does have some serious elbow mobility, I was shocked actually. If you look at his forearm in the regular HS, the posterior line of the forearm is perpendicular to the ground. While people with normal elbows will have the anterior forearm perpendicular to the ground. If I put my forearms in the same position as him it would take me into a reverse planche.

 

Actually, as Handbalancer mentioned on this forum, hyperextension is useful b/c it will let you keep the shoulder slightly closed while still maintaining a proper line. Lucky people, I suppose.