Who Uses a SlackBoard? Balance Training for Every Body

The short answer

A SlackBoard is used by almost anyone who wants better balance: older adults working on steadiness, people rebuilding stability after an injury with their physical therapist, athletes training ankles and reactions, office workers at standing desks, and kids. It works because a slackline-style surface moves under you in small, unpredictable ways, so your feet, ankles, core and brain practice correcting in real time. The SlackBoard was developed to help you train your balance, for life.

Most people start on the two-line SlackBoard Plus for extra stability. The single-line original is the more challenging choice for balance training.

Older adults who want to stay steady

Balance is a skill, and like any skill it fades if you stop practicing it. That matters as we age: the CDC reports that more than one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year (CDC fact sheet).

The good news is that balance responds to training. A Cochrane review of 108 randomized trials and more than 23,000 people aged 60+ found that programs built mainly on balance and functional exercise cut the rate of falls by about 24%, rated as high-certainty evidence (Sherrington et al., Cochrane 2019). Most of those exercises were done standing, which is exactly where a SlackBoard works.

Why older adults like it:

• It's low to the ground. The board sits on the ground with the line 5.5inches high, so stepping off is easy.

• You control the challenge. Start in two-line mode on a SlackBoard Plus, hold a counter or a balance pole, and progress at your own pace.

• Short sessions count. A few minutes a day fits around other activities.

If you have a history of falls, dizziness or a health condition, check with your doctor or physical therapist before starting, and practice near something sturdy to hold.

Next read: Balance Exercises for Older Adults You Can Do at Home, and Balance Training and Fall Prevention: What the Research Says.

People rebuilding stability, and the clinics that help them

Physical therapists, chiropractors and rehab clinics use SlackBoards as one tool in a broader program. The appeal is simple: the line gives constant, gentle feedback, so patients practice the small ankle, knee and hip corrections they need in everyday life.

Balance training already has a long track record in recovery. A systematic review in the Journal of Athletic Training found that at least six weeks of balance training after an acute ankle sprain substantially reduced the risk of spraining it again (McKeon & Hertel, 2008).

How clinics and home users tend to use it:

• Two-line mode first. The SlackBoard Plus lets a patient stand across both lines for a stable start, then switch to one line as confidence grows.

• Seated and kneeling work. Feet or knees on the board, with hands free, for early-stage sessions.

• Clinic-grade option. The two-line SlackBoard Pro is designed for professional settings.

A SlackBoard is a training tool, not a treatment. If you're recovering from an injury or surgery, use it as part of a plan your physical therapist or doctor has cleared.

Next read: Balance Training After an Ankle Sprain, and Balance Training After a Knee Injury.

Athletes who cut, land and change direction

Slackliners are often called some of the best balance athletes in the world, and that reactive control carries over to sports. Every sprint, cut, landing and change of direction depends on proprioception: your body's sense of where it is and how fast to correct.

The research backs targeted balance work for athletes:

• A 2018 meta-analysis of randomized trials found balance training cut the incidence of ankle sprains in athletes by 38% compared with no training (de Vasconcelos et al., Clinical Rehabilitation).

• A systematic review found proprioceptive and neuromuscular training reduced certain injuries in adolescent and young adult athletes in pivoting sports such as basketball, soccer and volleyball (Hübscher et al., Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010).

• In a randomized controlled trial led by UCLA exercise physiologist Dr. Brett Dolezal, eight weeks of slackline-board training improved Division I football players' balance more than training with wobble boards, BOSU balls and foam pads, especially on the hardest balance tests.

Athletes usually start on a single line, or switch a SlackBoard Plus to single-line mode, because it's the more challenging setup.

Next read: balance training guides for runners, tennis and pickleball, basketball and soccer.

Office workers at standing desks

Standing still for hours isn't much better than sitting still. A SlackBoard under your standing desk keeps your feet, ankles and legs making small, constant adjustments while you work, without pulling your attention away from the screen.

The SlackBoard Plus is the pick here. Standing with your feet across both lines gives a stable base for typing and calls, and Gibbon lists work and standing desks among its main uses (Gibbon support center). When you want a break that's more of a challenge, switch to one line for a few minutes.

Tips for desk use:

• Start with 10 to 15 minutes at a time and build up.

• Raise your desk about 5.5 inches to match the board's height, so your wrists and screen stay where they were.

• Keep the board on a flat floor, clear of chair wheels and cables.

Next read: Balance Training at Your Standing Desk.

Kids and families

To a kid, a SlackBoard is a toy. To a parent, it's a way to build balance, coordination and confidence indoors, with no screen involved. Families use it for rainy-day play, bounce contests and as cross-training for skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding and mountain biking.

For younger children, start in two-line mode on a SlackBoard Plus, which Gibbon recommends for kids (Gibbon support center). Older kids who want more challenge can switch to one line. Always supervise young children and keep the area around the board clear.

Because the board holds up to 400 lb, parents can use the same board, so it becomes a family activity rather than one more kids' toy.

Next read: SlackBoards for Kids: Balance, Coorindation and Confidence

Bigger and taller users

Many balance boards feel flimsy under a larger person. Every SlackBoard is built from American maple and rated for users up to 400 lb (Gibbon support center). Heavier users may need to re-tension the line a little sooner, which takes a few minutes.

The 42-inch board also gives taller users room for a wide stance. For a stable start, the two-line SlackBoard Plus is the better choice.

Which SlackBoard fits you?

FAQ

Q: Who is a SlackBoard for? Almost anyone who wants better balance: older adults, people rebuilding stability after an injury, athletes, standing-desk workers and kids. The two-line SlackBoard Plus suits most beginners; the single-line original is the more challenging option.

A: Is a SlackBoard good for seniors? It can be a useful part of a balance routine. Research shows balance and functional exercise reduces falls in older adults. Start in two-line mode, hold onto something sturdy, and check with your doctor first if you have a history of falls.

Q: Can I use a SlackBoard for physical therapy? Many clinics use it, but it's a training tool, not a treatment. Use it as part of a plan your physical therapist has approved.

A: Does balance training help athletes avoid injuries? Studies show balance training reduces ankle sprains in athletes. Separately, a randomized trial in Division I football players found slackline-board training improved balance more than wobble boards, BOSU balls and foam pads. That trial measured balance, not injury rates.

Q: Can I use a SlackBoard at a standing desk? Yes. The SlackBoard Plus in two-line mode is stable enough to work on.

A: What age can kids start? Young children can start in two-line mode with an adult supervising. Older kids can move to a single line.

Q: What's the weight limit?

A: 400 lb (181 kg) for every SlackBoard.

Sources

• Sherrington C, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; CD012424. Abstract via McMaster Optimal Aging Portal

• CDC. Older Adult Falls fact sheet. CDC Stacks

• McKeon PO, Hertel J. Systematic review of postural control and lateral ankle instability, part II. J Athl Train 2008;43(3):305–315. PMC

• de Vasconcelos GS, et al. Effects of proprioceptive training on the incidence of ankle sprain in athletes. Clin Rehabil 2018;32(12):1581–1590. PEDro record

• Hübscher M, et al. Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010;42(3):413–421. PubMed

• Dolezal BA, et al. Differential Balance Enhancements Associated with Conventional Balance Training and Portable Slackline Board Training. Journal, year and DOI to be added.

• GIBBON USA support center: SlackBoard FAQ. support.gibbon-usa.com