In biomechanics, center of pressure (CoP) is the term given to the point of application of the ground reaction force vector.
In biomechanical studies, the effect of some experimental condition on movement execution will regularly be quantified by alterations in the center of pressure.
For instance, during human walking, the center of pressure is near the heel at the time of heelstrike and moves anteriorly throughout the step, being located near the toes at toe-off.
CoP and center of gravity (CoG) are both related to balance in that they are dependent on the position of the body with respect to the supporting surface.
Center of pressure is the location on the supporting surface where the resultant vertical force vector would act if it could be considered to have a single point of application.