Slacklining:An explanatory multi-dimensional model considering classical mechanics,biopsychosocial health and time

This paper aims to overcome slacklining’s limited formulated explanatory models.Slacklining is an activity with increasing recreational use,but also has progressive adoption into prehabilitation and rehabilitation.Slacklining is achieved through self-learned strategies that optimize energy expenditure without conceding dynamic stability,during the neuromechanical action of balance retention on a tightened band.Evolved from rope-walking or‘Funambulus’,slacklining has an extensive history,yet limited and only recent published research,particularly for clinical interventions and in-depth hypothesized multi-dimensional models describing the neuromechanical control strategies.These‘knowledge-gaps’can be overcome by providing an,explanatory model,that evolves and progresses existing standards,and explains the broader circumstances of slacklining’s use.This model details the individual’s capacity to employ control strategies that achieve stability,functional movement and progressive technical ability.The model considers contributing entities derived from:Self-learned control of movement patterns;subjected to classical mechanical forces governed by Newton’s physical laws;influenced by biopsychosocial health factors;and within time’s multi-faceted perspectives,including as a quantified unit and as a spatial and cortical experience.Consequently,specific patient and situational uses may be initiated within the framework of evidence based medicine that ensures a multi-tiered context of slacklining applications in movement,balance and stability.Further research is required to investigate and mathematically define this proposed model and potentially enable an improved understanding of human functional movement.This will include its application in other diverse constructed and mechanical applications in varied environments,automation levels,robotics,mechatronics and artificial-intelligence factors,including machine learning related to movement phenotypes and applications.

Slacklining:A narrative review on the origins,neuromechanical models and therapeutic use

Slacklining,the neuromechanical action of balance retention on a tightened band,is achieved through self-learned strategies combining dynamic stability with optimal energy expenditure.Published slacklining literature is recent and limited,including for neuromechanical control strategy models.This paper explores slacklining’s definitions and origins to provide background that facilitates understanding its evolution and progressive incorporation into both prehabilitation and rehabilitation.Existing explanatory slacklining models are considered,their application to balance and stability,and knowledge-gaps highlighted.Current slacklining models predominantly derive from human quiet-standing and frontal plane movement on stable surfaces.These provide a multi-tiered context of the unique and complex neuro-motoric requirements for slacklining’s multiple applications,but are not sufficiently comprehensive.This consequently leaves an incomplete understanding of how slacklining is achieved,in relation to multi-directional instability and complex multi-dimensional human movement and behavior.This paper highlights the knowledge-gaps and sets a foundation for the required explanatory control mechanisms that evolve and expand a more detailed model of multi-dimensional slacklining and human functional movement.Such a model facilitates a more complete understanding of existing performance and rehabilitation applications that opens the potential for future applications into broader areas of movement in diverse fields including prostheses,automation and machine-learning related to movement phenotypes.