“Slacklining” represents a modern sports activity where people have to keep balance on a tightened ribbon. The first trials on the slackline result in uncontrollable lateral swing of the supporting leg. Training decreases those oscillations and therefore improves postural control. However, the underlying neural mechanisms are not known. Therefore, the present study aimed to highlight spinal adaptations going along with slackline training. Twenty‐four subjects were either assigned to a training or a control group and postural control was assessed before and after the 10 training sessions. Additionally, soleus Hoffmann (H)‐reflexes were elicited to evaluate changes in the excitability of the spinal reflex circuitry. Trained subjects were able to maintain balance on the slackline for at least 20 s (P<0.001) and reduced platform movements on the balance board (P<0.05). The H‐reflexes were significantly diminished (P<0.05) while no changes occurred in the background electromyography (bEMG). The control group showed no significant changes. From a functional point of view the reflex reduction may serve to suppress uncontrollable reflex mediated joint oscillations. As the bEMG remained unchanged, presynaptic rather than post‐synaptic mechanisms are speculated to be responsible for the changes in the Ia‐afferent transmission.

Referring to the current results, athletes are recommended to focus on vertical rifle sway in prone position and on body sway across the shooting line during standing shooting when fatigued.

The aim of the current study was to examine postural balance, rifle stability and shooting performance in biathletes, analysing the basic precision shooting skills without physical load in different performance groups. Therefore, kinematic and kinetic data from the World Cup (WC; n = 8), the European Cup (EC; n = 13) and a federal youth athletes' squad (n = 15) were recorded on an indoor shooting range. The participants had to shoot ten 5-shot-clips without physical load. Postural balance and rifle stability were measured by VICON (Oxford, UK) and PEDAR (Munich, Germany) systems over the last 0.6 s before firing. WC and EC groups showed lower body and rifle sway (mainly in cross-shooting direction) compared to youth athletes (p < 0.05). Postural balance and gun stability predominantly in cross-shooting direction were negatively correlated to shooting performance (r = −0.33 to −0.59; p < 0.05). The present data indicate the relevance of low body and rifle sway primarily in cross-shooting direction for a successful basic biathlon standing shooting at rest. Special biathlon specific balance and rifle stability training forms used in basic shooting trainings can be recommended.

In order to gain insight into skiing performance, it is necessary to determine the point where each turn begins. Recent developments in sensor technology have made it possible to develop simpler automatic turn detection methodologies, however they are not feasible for regular use. The aim of this study was to develop a sensor set up and an algorithm to precisely detect turns during alpine ski, which is feasible for a daily use. An IMU was attached to the posterior upper cuff of each ski boot. Turn movements were reproduced on a ski-ergometer at different turn durations and slopes. Algorithms were developed to analyze vertical, medio-lateral, anterior-posterior axes, and resultant accelerometer and gyroscope signals. Raw signals, and signals filtered with 3, 6, 9, and 12 Hz cut-offs were used to identify turn switch points. Video recordings were assessed to establish a reference turn-switch and precision (mean bias = 5.2, LoA = 51.4 ms). Precision was adjusted based on reference and the best signals were selected. The z-axis and resultant gyroscope signals, filtered at 3Hz are the most precise signals (0.056 and 0.063 s, respectively) to automatically detect turn switches during alpine skiing using this simple system.