▁a ▁hand stand . ▁For ▁a ▁true ▁hand stand , ▁the ▁exercise ▁is ▁performed ▁free - standing , ▁held ▁in ▁the ▁air . ▁To ▁prepare ▁the ▁strength ▁until ▁one ▁has ▁built ▁ade qu ate ▁balance , ▁the ▁feet ▁are ▁often ▁placed ▁against ▁a ▁wall , ▁held ▁by ▁a ▁partner , ▁or ▁secured ▁in ▁some ▁other ▁way ▁from ▁falling . ▁Hand stand ▁push ups ▁require ▁significant ▁strength , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁balance ▁and ▁control ▁if ▁performed ▁free - standing . ▁ ▁Similar ▁exer cis es ▁The ▁movement ▁can ▁be ▁considered ▁a ▁body weight ▁exercise ▁similar ▁to ▁the ▁military ▁press , ▁while ▁the ▁regular ▁push - up ▁is ▁similar ▁to ▁the ▁ben ch ▁press . ▁ ▁Mus cles ▁Hand stand ▁push ups ▁increase ▁the ▁load ▁on ▁the ▁tr ice ps ▁bra ch ii ▁mus cles ▁significantly ▁over ▁regular ▁push ups , ▁with ▁the ▁arms ▁having ▁to ▁hold ▁almost ▁ 1 0 0 % ▁of ▁the ▁body ' s ▁weight ▁rather ▁than ▁an ▁average ▁of ▁ 6 0 ▁to ▁ 7 0 % ▁during ▁normal ▁push ups . ▁Load ▁is ▁also ▁shift ed ▁from ▁the ▁P ector alis ▁major ▁mus cle ▁to ▁the ▁An terior ▁del to ids ▁and ▁Later al ▁del to ids ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁shoulders ▁ex ert ing ▁in ▁ab du ction ▁while ▁extern ally ▁rot ated , ▁rather ▁than ▁trans verse ▁flex ion . ▁The ▁upper ▁fib res ▁of ▁the ▁tra pez ius ▁are ▁also ▁involved ▁in ▁elev ating ▁the ▁shoulders . ▁ ▁In ▁free - standing ▁hand stand ▁push ups ,