Neuroscience-Based Exercise Training in Female Volleyball Players

NCT07676630 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026/43
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Athletic Performance; Cortical Activation; Gaze Tracking

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy

  Cortical Activation During Serve Task (fNIRS), measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a serve task, comparing pre-task, during-task, and post-task signal changes. Change in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (HbR) hemoglobin levels in the frontal cortex.

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Pupil Lab Invisible Eye Tracker

  Visual Attention and Decision-Making (Eye-Tracking Parameters). Measured using a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task, including total fixation duration and visual scan path parameters, automatically quantified using Pupil Player software. Measured change in gaze fixation duration and visual search patterns

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• T-Agility Test

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Serve Speed

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Vertical Jump Performance

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Y-Balance Test

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

• Sit-and-Reach Test

  Baseline and after 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuroscience-based exercise training program in addition to their regular volleyball training. The program includes eye warm-up exercises (eye massage, palming) and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations (Saccade, Anti-Saccade, Smart Optometry, Brock String, Star Chart, and Pinhole Glasses Small Area Game stations).

Behavioral: Exercise

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will continue with their regular volleyball training routine, including standard warm-up and cool-down, without any additional neuroscience-based exercise intervention. Total training time will be kept equal to the intervention group.

Interventions

Exercise BEHAVIORAL

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.

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 21 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Özge Ecem Şenel: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istinye University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Practice and Research Center

Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, 34010, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Soylu, C.; Altundag, E. Rewiring for Victory: Neuro-Athletic Training Enhances Flexibility, Serve Speed, and Upper Limb Performance in Elite Volleyball Players-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 11102. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311102

  RESULT

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• OZGE ECEM SENEL, PT, MSc

  Istinye University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

OZGE ECEM SENEL, PT, MSc

CONTACT

+905392642868; vinaricecem@hotmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assisstant, PT, MSc

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2026
• First Posted: June 30, 2026
• Study Start: February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: June 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Locations

TU (1)