title: Effects of supervised slackline training on postural instability, freezing of gait, and falls efficacy in people with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess whether supervised slackline training reduces the risk of falls in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  
  Twenty-two patients with idiopathic PD were randomized into experimental (EG, N = 11) and control (CG, N = 11) groups. Center of Pressure (CoP), Freezing of Gait (FOG), and Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) were assessed at pre-test, post-test and re-test. Rate perceived exertion (RPE, Borg's 6-20 scale) and local muscle perceived exertion (LRPE) were also assessed at the end of the training sessions.
  
  
  
  The EG group showed significant improvements in FOG and FES scores from pre-test to post-test. Both decreased at re-test, though they did not return to pre-test levels. No significant differences were detected in CoP parameters. Analysis of RPE and LRPE scores revealed that slackline was associated with minimal fatigue and involved the major lower limb and lumbar muscles.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest that slacklining is a simple, safe, and challenging training and rehabilitation tool for PD patients. It could be introduced into their physical activity routine to reduce the risk of falls and improve confidence related to fear of falling. Implications for Rehabilitation Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) are twice as likely to have falls compared to patients with other neurological conditions. This study support slackline as a simple, safe, and challenging training and rehabilitation tool for people with PD, which reduce their risk of falls and improve confidence related to fear of falling. Slackline in people with PD yields a low tiredness or fatigue impact and involves the major lower limb and lumbar muscles.
authors.affiliation: a University School of Sports Medicine, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain.|b Performance and Health Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education , University of A Coruna , Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: a University School of Sports Medicine, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Rio
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology , Bispebjerg Movement Disorders Biobank, Bispebjerg University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winge
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Physiotherapy , University of León , León , Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barragán-Pérez
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Physiotherapy , University of León , León , Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
authors.affiliation: a University School of Sports Medicine, University of Oviedo , Oviedo , Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González-Díez
authors.affiliation: e Catholic University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanco-Traba
authors.affiliation: f Department of Surgery , University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston , TX , USA.|g Shriners Hospitals for Children , Galveston , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Oscar E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Suman
authors.affiliation: h University of the Sunshine Coast , Coolum Beach , Australia.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Philip Gabel
authors.affiliation: i Department of Neurology , Hospital of the Bierzo , Ponferrada , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Gómez
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain
keywords: Motor control; balance; health; physical activity; rehabilitation; self-confidence