NEUROATHLETIC AND REACTIVE TRAINING IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS

NCT07540247 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2025/24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to compare the effects of neuroathletic training, reactive training, and routine team training in American football players. American football requires not only strength, speed, agility, and balance, but also rapid reaction, decision-making, and appropriate motor responses. Therefore, training approaches targeting the nervous system and reaction skills may contribute to both performance enhancement and injury risk reduction. Active American football players aged 18-30 are randomly assigned to neuroathletic training, reactive training, or control groups. The intervention groups participate in additional exercise sessions twice a week for four weeks, while the control group continues routine team training only. Assessments are performed before and after the intervention period. Outcome measures include Y Balance Test, Functional Movement Screen, Reactive Balance Test, core endurance test, and sit-and-reach test. These assessments are used to examine reaction performance, dynamic balance, postural control, movement quality, core endurance, and flexibility. The findings are expected to help identify the most effective training approach for improving performance and reducing injury risk in American football players.

Conditions

American Football Players; Neuroathletic Training; Reactive Training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Functional Movement Screen

  The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) consists of seven movement tasks designed to assess the balance between mobility and stability: deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk rotary stability, and trunk stability push-up. The test was administered using a standard test kit, and each movement was scored on a scale from 0 to 3 according to the standard scoring system. In the presence of pain, the relevant movement was recorded as 0 points (Altundağ et al., 2021).

  At baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

• Y Balance Test

  Dynamic balance and postural control were assessed using the Y Balance Test. Participants stood on the fixed platform with their non-dominant lower extremity while reaching in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions with the contralateral lower extremity. Three trials were performed in each direction, and reach distances were normalized to lower extremity length to calculate the composite score. Lower extremity length was measured as the distance between the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial malleolus (Unver et al., 2020).

  At baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

• Reactive Balance Test

  The Reactive Balance Test was used to assess reactive postural control and visuomotor response performance associated with injury risk. This test consisted of the integration of the Y Balance Test setup with an LED-based light system (ReactionX) controlled via a smartphone application. The LED lights were positioned at 80% of the participants' maximum reach distance in each direction during the Y Balance Test. Participants were instructed to maintain balance in the standard starting position and deactivate the randomly illuminated LED lights as quickly as possible. A total of 45 visual stimuli were presented at varying intervals ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 seconds to minimize anticipatory effects. Test outcomes were recorded as visuomotor reaction time (ms) and accuracy (%). The test was performed twice; the first trial was considered a familiarization trial, and the results of the second trial were used for analysis (Tekin et al., 2025).

  At baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Core Endurance Test

  At baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

• Sit-and-Reach Test

  At baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

Study Arms (3)

Neuroathletic Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Neuroathletic Training

Reactive Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Reactive Training

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Neuroathletic Training OTHER

A structured exercise program designed to improve the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs in order to enhance motor control, balance, reaction ability, coordination, and physical performance. Participants in this group receive neuroathletic exercises in addition to routine team training, twice weekly for 4 weeks, with each session lasting 10-15 minutes.

Neuroathletic Training Group

Reactive Training OTHER

Participants receive a reactive training program in addition to routine team training. The program includes exercises performed with a light-based system and is designed to improve reaction speed, visual-motor response, dynamic balance, coordination, and decision-making ability. Training is performed twice weekly for 4 weeks, with sessions lasting 10-15 minutes.

Reactive Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18-30 years Holding an active American football license during the study season Competing at the university, semi-professional, or professional level Regular participation in team training (6-10 hours per week) At least one year of continuous competitive American football experience Having a structured training background in American football Free from color blindness Free from attention-related disorders Free from any health condition that could affect neuromuscular, reactive, or sport-specific performance

You may not qualify if:

• Injury within the previous 3 months resulting in absence from training or competition for more than 2 weeks Upper or lower extremity surgery within the previous 6 months History of neurological, vestibular, or cardiovascular disorders that could interfere with neuroathletic training or performance assessments COVID-19 infection within the previous 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ebru Tekin: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale University

Denizli, Kınıklı, 20160, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessment and statistical analysis were performed by individuals blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2026
• First Posted: April 20, 2026
• Study Start: December 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 8, 2026
• Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)