Abstract: The force exerted on a measuring section is broken down into two components each acting on one end of a measuring section. The components are each broken down into a vertical part and a horizontal part. The two vertical parts obtained are measured separately. The measured values are cyclically interrogated in an interrogation sequence in the direction of movement of the living being and stored, to permit the determination of force, location, duration and course in time. The measuring surface is subdivided lamellar-fashion at right angles to the direction of movement. One measuring section is narrower than the foot and longer than the track width. The force sensing device (3) comprises a rigid crossbeam which is borne on a sensing block (7) on both sides and acts in the vertical direction on a measured value delivering sensor (23) disposed therein. The crossbeam is mounted to move only vertically and borne on a measuring spring (43) which bears against the sensing block and is preferably a flat spring.