What the heck is this called?

[avocado_love]

I'm doing some editing in critique circle and I'm coming across a lot of sentences that start with an action, like this:


Stumbling over the bodies, she tripped and fell.

Looking back over her shoulder, Melissa ran faster.

Gasping for breath, Yolanda looked around.

Hitting her head on the desk, Avocado Love wondered why so many people start their sentences this way.



So, fellow writers and people who are smarter than me. What the heck is this called? I want to put a name to it so I can tell people never, EVER to do it. It's quickly becoming a pet peeve. ;D Thanks!