Neuromuscular Training in Professional Esports Players

NCT07325396 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: E-SPORT-NME-2025-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Professional esports players engage in prolonged training sessions and experience high physical and mental stress due to intensive competition schedules. These demands can lead to increased fatigue, decreased performance, and health problems. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether adding a structured neuromuscular exercise program to routine esports training reduces fatigue and stress biomarkers and improves performance-related outcomes in professional esports players.

Conditions

Esports; Esports Players

Keywords

esports; professional gamers; neuromuscular training; fatigue; stress; biomarkers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Serum cortisol level - Stress Biomarkers

  Serum cortisol level will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Testosterone level - Stress Biomarkers

  Testosterone level will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• C-Reactive Protein Level (CRP) - Fatigue Biomarkers

  Serum CRP levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Creatine Kinase (CK) Level - Fatigue Biomarkers

  Creatine kinase levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks.

• Vitamin B12 Level - Fatigue Biomarkers

  Serum vitamin B12 levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks.

• Iron Level - Fatigue Biomarkers

  Serum iron levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.

  Baseline and 8 weeks.

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Muscle Strength

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Sleep Quality

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Physical Activity Level

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Reaction Time

  Baseline and 8 weeks

• Blood Lactate Concentration

  Baseline and 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Neuromuscular Training

EXPERIMENTAL

Professional esports players will perform a structured neuromuscular training program added to their routine esports practice, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. The program includes warm-up, aerobic, strengthening, core stabilization, functional and reaction drills with progressive weekly increases in duration or repetitions.

Behavioral: Neuromuscular Training

Physical Activity Counseling

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Professional esports players will receive structured physical activity counseling in addition to their routine esports practice. The counseling will follow ACSM 5A principles (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) to support behavior change and increase physical activity participation weekly for 8 weeks.

Behavioral: Physical Activity Counseling

Interventions

Neuromuscular Training BEHAVIORAL

A progressive neuromuscular exercise program including dynamic warm-up, aerobic exercises, functional strengthening of lower and upper extremity muscles, core stabilization training, and reaction drills performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Duration and repetitions increase biweekly according to a structured progression protocol.

Neuromuscular Training

Physical Activity Counseling BEHAVIORAL

Structured physical activity counseling based on ACSM 5A principles (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) delivered weekly for 8 weeks to promote sustainable physical activity behaviors and reduce sedentary time during esports training routines.

Physical Activity Counseling

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18-35 years
• Currently competing as a contracted professional esports player
• Playing one of the following games at a professional level:
• League of Legends, Counter Strike 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Apex Legends, DOTA2, Rocket League, PUBG
• Participating in ≥35 hours/week of training with their team
• Voluntary agreement to participate and sign informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History or presence of medical conditions affecting safety or performance: metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, or respiratory disorders
• Playing esports only at amateur or beginner level
• Answering "Yes" to any item in the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
• Removal Criteria:
• Participating in \<35 hours/week esports training during the study
• Missing ≥2 neuromuscular training sessions (intervention group)
• Leaving their professional esports organization (roster removal, retirement, etc.)
• Any illness or injury preventing continuation of esports participation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Yeditepe University: lead
• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Ambrozy T, Rydzik L, Obminski Z, Blach W, Serafin N, Blach B, Jaszczur-Nowicki J, Ozimek M. The Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training Periods on Morning Serum Testosterone and Cortisol Levels and Physical Fitness in Men Aged 35-40 Years. J Clin Med. 2021 May 15;10(10):2143. doi: 10.3390/jcm10102143.

  PMID: 34063524 BACKGROUND

• Saglam M, Arikan H, Savci S, Inal-Ince D, Bosnak-Guclu M, Karabulut E, Tokgozoglu L. International physical activity questionnaire: reliability and validity of the Turkish version. Percept Mot Skills. 2010 Aug;111(1):278-84. doi: 10.2466/06.08.PMS.111.4.278-284.

  PMID: 21058606 BACKGROUND

• Andre TL, Walsh SM, ValladAo S, Cox D. Physiological and Perceptual Response to a Live Collegiate Esports Tournament. Int J Exerc Sci. 2020 Sep 1;13(6):1418-1429. doi: 10.70252/KNEB6696. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 33042382 BACKGROUND

• Nagorsky E, Wiemeyer J. The structure of performance and training in esports. PLoS One. 2020 Aug 25;15(8):e0237584. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237584. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 32841263 BACKGROUND

• Bonnar D, Castine B, Kakoschke N, Sharp G. Sleep and performance in Eathletes: for the win! Sleep Health. 2019 Dec;5(6):647-650. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

  PMID: 31320292 BACKGROUND

• Emara AK, Ng MK, Cruickshank JA, Kampert MW, Piuzzi NS, Schaffer JL, King D. Gamer's Health Guide: Optimizing Performance, Recognizing Hazards, and Promoting Wellness in Esports. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2020 Dec;19(12):537-545. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000787.

  PMID: 33306517 BACKGROUND

• DiFrancisco-Donoghue J, Balentine J, Schmidt G, Zwibel H. Managing the health of the eSport athlete: an integrated health management model. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2019 Jan 10;5(1):e000467. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000467. eCollection 2019.

  PMID: 30792883 BACKGROUND

• Jenny, S. E., Manning, R. D., Keiper, M. C., & Olrich, T. W. (2017). Virtual (ly) athletes: where eSports fit within the definition of "Sport". Quest, 69(1), 1-18.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Doğukan Tongar, Master of Science

CONTACT

+90 0507 843 10 21; doguka.tongar@yeditepe.edu.tr

Ela TARAKCI

CONTACT

etarakci@iuc.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Teaching Assistant

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2025
• First Posted: January 8, 2026
• Study Start: January 28, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)