Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(10): 717-723
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1261936
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Slackline Training for Balance and Strength Promotion

U. Granacher1 , N. Iten1 , R. Roth1 , A. Gollhofer2
  • 1University of Basel, Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, Basel, Switzerland
  • 2University of Freiburg, Institute of Sport and Sport Science, Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision June 11, 2010

Publication Date:
30 July 2010 (online)

Abstract

The prevalence of sustaining a sport injury is high in adults. Deficits in postural control/muscle strength represent important injury-risk factors. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a specific type of balance training, i. e. slackline training, followed by detraining on balance and strength performance. Twenty-seven adults participated in this study and were assigned to an intervention (age 22.8±3.3 yrs) or a control group (age 23.9±4.4 yrs). The intervention group participated in 4 weeks of slackline training on nylon webbings. Detraining lasted 4 weeks. Tests included the measurement of (a) total centre of pressure displacements during one-legged standing on a balance platform and during the compensation of a perturbation impulse, (b) maximal torque and rate of force development (RFD) of the plantar flexors on an isokinetic device, and (c) jumping height on a force platform. After training, no significant interaction effects were observed for variables of static/dynamic postural control, maximal torque, and jumping height. Training-induced improvements were found for RFD. After the withdrawal of the training stimulus, RFD slightly decreased. Given that the promotion of balance and strength is important for injury prevention, changes in RFD only might not be sufficient to produce an injury-preventive effect.

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Correspondence

PD Dr. Urs GranacherPhD 

University of Basel

Institute of Exercise and Health

Sciences

Birsstr. 320B

4052 Basel

Switzerland

Phone: +41/61/377 87 35

Fax: +41/61/377 87 58

Email: urs.granacher@unibas.ch