Balancing Recovery: How Slacklining Can Benefit Stroke Survivors

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Since my stroke in May 2021, I’ve woken up each morning feeling like a peg-legged pirate. My left leg is often numb and heavy as I get out of bed to start my day.

Over the years, I’ve tried many therapies to regain feeling in my left leg to reduce this heavy limb sensation – acupuncture, cupping, ice baths, massage, walking barefoot, sauna and electrical stimulation just to name a few.

But much to my surprise, one of the most effective practices to help my left leg feel more like the leg I remember and less like a thousand-pound steel beam is slacklining – a sport I knew little about pre-stroke.

This straightforward yet challenging exercise has helped me improve my balance and agility post-stroke while also helping me regain some feeling in my stroke-affected left leg.

I had never stepped foot on a slackline before I had a stroke. Today, it’s one of my favorite things to do.

What is Slacklining?

With slacklining, you’re challenged to stand or walk on a 2- to 3-inch-wide webbed line. While indoor versions are available, slacklines are often strung between two trees.

Although it looks intimidating, you don’t need to become a professional daredevil to benefit from slacklining.

In fact, walking across the slackline isn’t necessary to experience the benefits I’ve found in this unique rehabilitation exercise.

Walking on a slackline is a fun challenge, but just practicing single-leg and tandem-style balance exercises is very effective. These simple exercises have helped me to feel more agile and less stiff in my stroke-affected left leg over the years.

The Benefits of Slacklining After Stroke

About eight months after my stroke, I stumbled upon a YouTube video of a woman discussing how slacklining helped her in stroke recovery.

I was vaguely familiar with slacklining after seeing other videos on social media, so I quickly went to Google to see if there was any evidence to back up her claims.

I was surprised to find a series of case studies that described how slacklining helped two women recovering from stroke and traumatic brain injury.

According to these case reports, the two women — aged 87 and 40 — reported less fatigue as well as improved balance and confidence from slacklining.

The authors of the case studies reported, “Slacklining’s external stimulations activate global-body responses through innate balance, optimal postural and potentially down-regulated reflex control. Incorporated into stroke rehabilitation programs, slacklining can provide measurable functional gains.”

Additionally, research involving people who haven’t had a stroke or TBI also indicate that slacklining can improve physical performance.

One study found that slacklining may help youth soccer players improve agility and another showed that paralympic skiers reported better balance after slackline training.

My Experience with Slacklining in Stroke Recovery

After reading the case reports on slacklining after stroke and TBI, I excitedly went to Amazon and ordered a beginner’s slackline set.

Once I tried the slackline, I was surprised at how quickly I noticed physical improvements.

Even though my early practice sessions — about 10 months after stroke — were just experimenting with various ways to simply stand on the line without falling, once I finished a session, I felt much more fluid and athletic from the hips down when walking.

This was a welcome change, considering my left side often made me feel like the rusty Tin Man due to the stroke.

Over the years, as I’ve gone from barely standing on the slackline to walking across it, I’ve noticed significant improvements in balance as well as short-term improvements with agility and the heavy leg phenomenon.

Unfortunately, the benefits I experienced related to that heavy leg feeling after slacklining have been temporary. While I often feel great the next day after using the slackline and that heavy leg phenomenon is much improved, that benefit fades in the following days.

However, I can only slackline a few times a month due to weather and time constraints, so I have no idea if a more consistent slacklining routine would be helpful. My guess is it would be, since more consistent practice is a common-sense approach to any physical pursuit.

Still, slacklining has been one of the most beneficial lower body exercises for me after stroke. The vibration, bounce, and unpredictability of the line are a significant challenge, which makes slacklining a uniquely effective rehab exercise.

How to Add Slacklining to Physical Therapy After Stroke

The benefits I’ve felt from slacklining over the years have far exceeded any of my expectations.

However, slacklining is not an easy hobby to pick up, especially when you can’t feel one of your legs. The first few practice sessions can be discouraging just trying to stay on the line, but there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the learning curve.

Here are a few strategies that helped me learn how to slackline:

• Train With a Partner

It’s difficult to stand on a slackline at first, so having a friend or family member there is essential to help prevent any falls.

• Be Patient

When it comes to slacklining, there’s no need to rush to try and walk across the line. I’ve used the slackline off and on for over two-and-a-half years, and it took well over a year before I could walk from one end to the other without the top support line.

• Use a Training Line

Hang a training line slightly above your height so you can reach above your head to use it for support. This will help prevent falls and allow you to spend more time on the line.

• Hang a Low Line

The distance of the trees and height of the slackline is up to the user as a higher and longer line is more challenging than a shorter slackline hung closer to the ground.

In the case reports I mentioned above, the slackline was hung just about a foot off the ground. This way, when an individual stands in the middle of the line, the slackline is mere inches off the ground.

  • Try it Without Shoes

Slacklining barefoot will help you get a better feel for the line.

In terms of finding a slackline, there are many slackline kits available on Amazon, most of which range from $50 to $100. I’ve used slacklines from FlyBold and ZenMonkey, both of which I’ve enjoyed.

Like any other post-stroke exercise, slacklining is not some miracle silver bullet. However, if you have space where you could set up a slackline in your yard, I think you might be surprised at how helpful it can be.

*The exercises described in this blog post and elsewhere on this site are for informational purposes only and are based on my personal experience with stroke recovery. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment from a physical therapist.