Understanding Balance

We generally take it for granted that we can stand upright and move around without much difficulty. However, when we realize that the human body, like that of any animal, is a compliant, springy structure with distributed mass, we can appreciate that the task of achieving and maintaining balance is far from simple. Understanding Balance explains in detail how an animal or a person is able to stand up and move about without falling over. A realistic assessment of the nature of the problems that arise, together with a clear explanation of the underlying principles, leads to the development of…