Download PDF
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)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

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.

Key words

sensorimotor training - postural sway - rate of force development - jumping height

References

  • 1 Blimkie CJ. Resistance training during pre- and early puberty: efficacy, trainability, mechanisms, and persistence.  Can J Sport Sci. 1992;  17 264-279
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Caraffa A, Cerulli G, Projetti M, Aisa G, Rizzo A. Prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in soccer. A prospective controlled study of proprioceptive training.  Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1996;  4 19-21
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Cohen J. (ed) Statistical Power for the Behavioral Sciences.  Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. 1988; 
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Coren S. The lateral preference inventory for measurement of handedness, footedness, eyedness, and earedness: Norms for young adults.  Bull Psych Soc. 1993;  31 1-3
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 DiStefano LJ, Clark MA, Padua DA. Evidence supporting balance training in healthy individuals: a systemic review.  J Strength Cond Res. 2009;  23 2718-2731
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Emery CA, Cassidy JD, Klassen TP, Rosychuk RJ, Rowe BH. Effectiveness of a home-based balance-training program in reducing sports-related injuries among healthy adolescents: a cluster randomized controlled trial.  CMAJ. 2005;  172 749-754
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Emery CA, Rose MS, McAllister JR, Meeuwisse WH. A prevention strategy to reduce the incidence of injury in high school basketball: a cluster randomized controlled trial.  Clin J Sport Med. 2007;  17 17-24
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang AG, Buchner A. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences.  Behav Res Methods. 2007;  39 175-191
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Frey I, Berg A, Grathwohl D, Keul J. Freiburg Questionnaire of physical activity-development, evaluation and application.  Soz Praventivmed. 1999;  44 55-64
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Granacher U, Gollhofer A, Kriemler S. Effects of balance training on postural sway, leg extensor strength and jumping height in adolescents.  Res Q Exerc Sport. 2010;  81 245-251
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Granacher U, Gruber M, Strass D, Gollhofer A. The impact of sensorimotor training in elderly men on maximal and explosive force production capacity.  Deut Z Sportmed. 2007;  58 446-451
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Granacher U, Muehlbauer T, Bridenbaugh S, Bleiker E, Wehrle A, Kressig RW. Balance training and multi-task performance in seniors.  Int J Sports Med. 2010;  31 353-358
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Granacher U, Muehlbauer T, Doerflinger B, Strohmeier R, Gollhofer A. Promoting strength and balance in adolescents during physical education: Effects of a short term resistance training.  J Strength Cond Res. 2010;  in press
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Granacher U, Muehlbauer T, Maestrini L, Zahner L, Gollhofer A. Can balance training promote balance and strength in prepubertal children?.  J Strength Cond Res. 2010;  in press
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Gruber M, Gollhofer A. Impact of sensorimotor training on the rate of force development and neural activation.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  92 98-105
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Gruber M, Gruber SB, Taube W, Schubert M, Beck SC, Gollhofer A. Differential effects of ballistic versus sensorimotor training on rate of force development and neural activation in humans.  J Strength Cond Res. 2007;  21 274-282
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Gruber M, Taube W, Gollhofer A, Beck S, Amtage F, Schubert M. Training-specific adaptations of H- and stretch reflexes in human soleus muscle.  J Mot Behav. 2007;  39 68-78
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Google Scholar
  • 19 Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, Bauman A. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association.  Circulation. 2007;  116 1081-1093
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Heitkamp HC, Horstmann T, Mayer F, Weller J, Dickhuth HH. Gain in strength and muscular balance after balance training.  Int J Sports Med. 2001;  22 285-290
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Horak FB, Nashner LM. Central programming of postural movements: adaptation to altered support-surface configurations.  J Neurophysiol. 1986;  55 1369-1381
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Kaminski TW, Hartsell HD. Factors contributing to chronic ankle instability: A strength perspective.  J Athl Train. 2002;  37 394-405
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Kapteyn TS, Bles W, Njiokiktjien CJ, Kodde L, Massen CH, Mol JM. Standardization in platform stabilometry being a part of posturography.  Agressologie. 1983;  24 321-326
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Lofvenberg R, Karrholm J, Sundelin G, Ahlgren O. Prolonged reaction time in patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle.  Am J Sports Med. 1995;  23 414-417
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 McGuine TA, Keene JS. The effect of a balance training program on the risk of ankle sprains in high school athletes.  Am J Sports Med. 2006;  34 1103-1111
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 McKeon PO, Ingersoll CD, Kerrigan DC, Saliba E, Bennett BC, Hertel J. Balance training improves function and postural control in those with chronic ankle instability.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;  40 1810-1819
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Meeuwisse WH. Assessing causation in sport injury: a multifactorial model.  Clin J Sport Med. 1994;  4 166-170
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Myklebust G, Engebretsen L, Braekken IH, Skjolberg A, Olsen OE, Bahr R. Prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball players: a prospective intervention study over 3 seasons.  Clin J Sport Med. 2003;  13 71-78
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Olsen OE, Myklebust G, Engebretsen L, Holme I, Bahr R. Exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in youth sports: cluster randomised controlled trial.  BMJ. 2005;  330 449-455
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Parkkari J, Kujala UM, Kannus P. Is it possible to prevent sports injuries? Review of controlled clinical trials and recommendations for future work.  Sports Med. 2001;  31 985-995
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Rom K. Die Slackline für das Fach Bewegung und Sport.  Bewegungserziehung. 2009;  3 19-24
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Schneider S, Seither B, Tonges S, Schmitt H. Sports injuries: population based representative data on incidence, diagnosis, sequelae, and high risk groups.  Br J Sports Med. 2006;  40 334-339
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Schneider S, Weidmann C, Seither B. Epidemiology and risk factors of sports injuries – multivariate analyses using German national data.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 247-252
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Taube W, Gruber M, Gollhofer A. Spinal and supraspinal adaptations associated with balance training and their functional relevance.  Acta Physiol. 2008;  193 101-116
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Taube W, Kullmann N, Leukel C, Kurz O, Amtage F, Gollhofer A. Differential reflex adaptations following sensorimotor and strength training in young elite athletes.  Int J Sports Med. 2007;  28 999-1005
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Toole T, Hirsch MA, Forkink A, Lehman DA, Maitland CG. The effects of a balance and strength training program on equilibrium in Parkinsonism: A preliminary study.  NeuroRehabilitation. 2000;  14 165-174
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Wang HK, Chen CH, Shiang TY, Jan MH, Lin KH. Risk-factor analysis of high school basketball-player ankle injuries: a prospective controlled cohort study evaluating postural sway, ankle strength, and flexibility.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;  87 821-825
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Wedderkopp N, Kaltoft M, Lundgaard B, Rosendahl M, Froberg K. Prevention of injuries in young female players in European team handball. A prospective intervention study.  Scan J Med Sci Sports. 1999;  9 41-47
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Willems T, Witvrouw E, Verstuyft J, Vaes P, De Clercq D. Proprioception and muscle strength in subjects with a history of ankle sprains and chronic instability.  J Athl Train. 2002;  37 487-493
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Zech A, Hubscher M, Vogt L, Banzer W, Hansel F, Pfeifer K. Neuromuscular training for rehabilitation of sports injuries: A systematic review.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;  Epub ahead of print
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

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

      >