DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF THE NEUROCOGNITIVE UPPER EXTREMITY TESTS: A RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY STUDY

NCT07579676 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: FTREK26/25
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to develop an upper extremity neurocognitive performance test battery, determine its reliability and validity, and investigate the effect of neurocognitive load on test performance in athletes and healthy volunteers aged 18-40. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are the developed upper extremity neurocognitive tests reliable and valid tool for assessment? Does the addition of neurocognitive load significantly affect upper extremity physical performance scores? Are the neurocognitive performance test results related to shoulder rotator cuff muscle strength, rate of force development, and shoulder function? Researchers will compare the neurocognitive performance of athletes to healthy non-athlete individuals to see if the test battery can effectively differentiate between these two groups (discriminative validity). Participants will: Complete demographic forms and questionnaires regarding activity level and shoulder function. Undergo shoulder range of motion and isometric strength/rate of force development assessments. Perform a battery of 4 neurocognitive tests integrated with a light-based reaction system. Perform the same functional tests without neurocognitive load to serve as a baseline for comparison. (Athletes only) Attend additional sessions to evaluate the feasibility of the tests and to assess test-retest reliability with a one-week interval.

Conditions

Athletic Performance; Physical Functional Performance; Upper Extremity; Cognition

Keywords

shoulder; Reaction Time; Muscle Strength; Reproducibility of Results

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Test-Retest Reliability of the Neurocognitive Test Battery

  Evaluated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) to determine the consistency of scores obtained from the four neurocognitive tests when administered one week apart to the athlete group.

  Baseline (Session 2) and 1 week later (Session 3)

• Concurrent Validity

  Measured by analyzing the correlation (Pearson or Spearman coefficients) between the neurocognitive performance test results and physical parameters, including shoulder rotator cuff isometric strength and Rate of Force Development (RFD).

  During the second evaluation session (approx. 60 minutes).

• Discriminative Validity

  Measured by comparing the neurocognitive performance scores between the athlete group and the healthy control group to determine if the battery can distinguish between different activity levels.

  Single evaluation session (approx. 60 minutes).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Dual-Task Interference

  During the second evaluation session (approx. 60 minutes)

Study Arms (2)

Athlete Group

This group consists healthy, physically active individuals aged 18-40 who are currently active in sports clubs in Ankara or have applied to the Hacettepe University, Department of Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Participants must have been training at least three times a week for the past year and have no history of upper extremity injury or surgery in the last 12 months. This cohort will participate in three separate sessions to assess the feasibility, validity, and test-retest reliability of the neurocognitive test battery.

Non-Athlete Group

This group consists healthy individuals aged 18-40 who meet the general inclusion criteria but do not engage in regular physical activity (defined as exercising fewer than three times a week over the past year). These participants are recruited from healthy individuals applying to the Hacettepe University Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit. This cohort will undergo a single evaluation session to determine the discriminative validity of the test battery by comparing their results to the athlete group.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants are selected based on their availability and meeting specific inclusion criteria from targeted environments (sports clubs and clinics) rather than random selection from the general population. Primary Location: The study is conducted at the Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Ankara, Turkey. Athlete Cohort: Participants are recruited from local sports clubs operating in Ankara and individuals who have applied to the same university. Control Cohort: Healthy, non-athlete individuals are recruited from those applying to the same university who meet the specific activity-level requirements for the control group. Geographic Context: The population is primarily composed of individuals residing in or around the Ankara who can visit the clinic for assessment. Setting: All evaluations take place in a specialized clinical biomechanics and sports rehabilitation laboratory environment.

You may qualify if:

• Individuals between the ages of 18 and 40
• No passive range of motion limitations in the shoulder joint
• Classified as healthy with no history of injury in the past year according to the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
• Volunteered to participate in the study\[cite: 1\].
• Athlete Group Specific Criteria:
• Physically active individuals
• Currently active in sports clubs in Ankara and/or applied to the Hacettepe University Department of Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
• History of training or physical activity at least three times a week for the past year
• Participation in recreational or competitive above or below shoulder height sports
• Control Group Specific Criteria:
• Healthy individuals who have applied to the Hacettepe University Department of Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit
• Does not engage in regular physical activity
• History of training or physical activity fewer than three times a week over the past year
• No participation in recreational or competitive sports

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of symptomatic upper extremity pathology
• History of upper extremity and/or trunk injury or surgery in the last 12 months
• History of ongoing neck pain, neurological symptoms in any extremity, or back, hip, or knee pain in the last 12 months
• Presence of a health condition that could cause a decrease in shoulder strength, such as inflammatory arthritis or neurological disorders
• Presence of any systemic disease
• Presence of visual or hearing impairments

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Central Study Contacts

Elif Turgut, PT, PhD, Professor

CONTACT

+905442645600; elif.turgut.pt@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Week
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2026
• First Posted: May 12, 2026
• Study Start: May 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 5, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 5, 2026
• Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

TU (1)