RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07676630

Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training in Female Volleyball Players

Effect of Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training on Cortical Activation, Focus, and Performance in Professional Female Volleyball Players


Sponsor

Özge Ecem Şenel

Enrollment

24 participants

Start Date

Feb 20, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Summary

24 volunteer professional female volleyball players (aged 16-21), licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and 3, will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into intervention (n=12) and control (n=12) groups using www.randomizer.org. The intervention group will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuro-athletic exercise training program, including eye warm-up exercises and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations, in addition to their regular training. The control group will continue with regular training only. Both groups will have equal total training time. Visual attention and decision-making strategies will be measured with a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task. Cortical activation (oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin levels) in the frontal cortex during the same serve task will be measured simultaneously with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Sport-specific physical fitness will be evaluated with the T-Agility Test, radar gun serve speed measurement, VERT wearable jump analysis system, Y-Balance Test, and sit-and-reach test. All assessments will be conducted before training begins and after the 8-week program. The study aims to determine whether neuro-athletic exercise training improves cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness parameters in professional female volleyball players, compared to a control group receiving regular training only.


Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin Age: 16 YearsMax Age: 21 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

  • Licensed female volleyball player in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 or League 3
  • Aged between 16 and 21 years
  • Actively participating in the sport for at least 3 years

Exclusion Criteria3

  • Any history of musculoskeletal surgery
  • An injury within the last 3 months that prevented participation in training or competition
  • Any diagnosed visual impairment, visual function disorder, or vestibular system-related problem

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALExercise

An 8-week (3 days/week) structured program added to regular training, combining: (1) eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and (2) volleyball-specific visual-motor coordination stations, including Saccade, Anti-Saccade, and Smart Optometry stations (targeting visual tracking, reaction speed, and eye-hand coordination), Brock String (depth perception and eye-hand coordination), Star Chart station (visual scanning and spatial awareness), and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game (restricted peripheral vision to enhance focused attention and quick decision-making). Sessions are conducted by a physiotherapist, with total training time matched to the control group.


Locations(1)

Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Practice and Research Center

Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, Turkey (Türkiye)

View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov

For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.

Visit

NCT07676630


Related Trials