Abstract
Background: Slackline-training has been shown to improve mainly task-specific balancing skills. Non-task specific effects were assessed for tandem stance and preferred one-leg stance on stable and perturbed force platforms with open eyes. It is unclear whether transfer effects exist for other balancing conditions and which component of the balancing ability is affected. Also, it is not known whether slackline-training can improve non-visual-dependent spatial orientation abilities, a function mainly supported by the hippocampus.Objective: To assess the effect of one-month of slackline-training on different components of balancing ability and its transfer effects on non-visual-dependent spatial orientation abilities.Materials and Methods: Fifty subjects aged 18–30 were randomly assigned to the training group (T) (n = 25, 23.2 ± 2.5 years; 12 females) and the control group (C) (n = 25, 24.4 ± 2.8 years; 11 females). Professional instructors taught the intervention group to slackline over four consecutive weeks with three 60-min-trainings in each week. Data acquisition was performed (within 2 days) by blinded investigators at the baseline and after the training. Main outcomes Improvement in the score of a 30-item clinical balance test (CBT) developed at our institute (max. score = 90 points) and in the average error distance (in centimeters) in an orientation test (OT), a triangle completion task with walking and wheelchair conditions for 60°, 90°, and 120°.Results: Training group performed significantly better on the closed-eyes conditions of the CBT (1.6 points, 95% CI: 0.6 to 2.6 points vs. 0.1 points, 95% CI: –1 to 1.1 points; p = 0.011, = 0.128) and in the wheelchair (vestibular) condition of the OT (21 cm, 95% CI: 8–34 cm vs. 1 cm, 95% CI: –14–16 cm; p = 0.049, = 0.013).Conclusion: Our results indicate that one month of intensive slackline training is a novel approach for enhancing clinically relevant balancing abilities in conditions with closed eyes as well as for improving the vestibular-dependent spatial orientation capability; both of the benefits are likely caused by positive influence of slackline-training on the vestibular system function.
Highlights
Intact balance control is required to maintain postural stability and to assure safe mobility-related activities during daily life (Mancini and Horak, 2010)
In contrast to the overall test results, when only those conditions were analyzed in which the participants had their eyes closed, a significant interaction effect with medium to large effect size was observed (p = 0.011, η2p = 0.128), as can be seen from the Figure 5 and Table 5. In these conditions the training group improved (13.7 ± 1.8 to 15.4 ± 2.2) while the control group performed slightly worse on the post-test (13.7 ± 2.6 to 13.6 ± 2.4)
1 month of intensive balance training during which participants learned how to slackline, led to significantly better performance of our training group participants on the clinical balance test (CBT) compared to their control counterparts, but only on those measurements where their visual input was blocked, i.e., where they had to balance with eyes closed
Summary
Intact balance control is required to maintain postural stability and to assure safe mobility-related activities during daily life (Mancini and Horak, 2010). Balance and strength training is considered to be by far the most efficient intervention for fall prevention (Karlsson et al, 2013) and it can be effective for postural and neuromuscular control improvements; in addition, balance training is considered to be an effective intervention for improvement in static postural sway and dynamic balance in both athletes and nonathletes (Zech et al, 2010) Both gray and white matter alterations have been reported in young people in response to only six weeks of balance training (Taubert et al, 2010). Non-task specific effects were assessed for tandem stance and preferred one-leg stance on stable and perturbed force platforms with open eyes It is unclear whether transfer effects exist for other balancing conditions and which component of the balancing ability is affected. Objective: To assess the effect of one-month of slackline-training on different components of balancing ability and its transfer effects on non-visual-dependent spatial orientation abilities. Conclusion: Our results indicate that one month of intensive slackline training is a novel approach for enhancing clinically relevant balancing abilities in conditions with closed eyes as well as for improving the vestibular-dependent spatial orientation capability; both of the benefits are likely caused by positive influence of slackline-training on the vestibular system function
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