Effects of a SVT on Agility and Reactive Agility in Adolescent Male Basketball Players

Effects of a Six-Week Stroboscopic Training Program on Agility and Reactive Agility in Adolescent Male Basketball Players: A Pilot Study

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a stroboscopic training intervention on reactive agility and agility speed in basketball players, using identical movement patterns, and to evaluate perceptual-cognitive indices derived from the relationship between agility and reactive agility performance. This study hypothesized that stroboscopic visual training would significantly improve reactive agility and agility performance in adolescent male basketball players.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroboscopic Visual Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Neuromuscular exercise training with stroboscopic glassess; Other: Control group

Detailed Description

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a stroboscopic training intervention on reactive agility and agility speed in basketball players, using identical movement patterns, and to evaluate perceptual-cognitive indices derived from the relationship between agility and reactive agility performance. This study hypothesized that stroboscopic visual training would significantly improve reactive agility and agility performance in adolescent male basketball players. This study was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial, with the statistician blinded during the data analysis. This study was conducted at Kocaeli İzmitspor and Bulls Basketball Sports Clubs. As the study population consisted of adolescent athletes, written informed consent was obtained from their parents or legal guardians. Prior to data collection, all participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study, the voluntary nature of participation, and their right to withdraw at any time without any consequences. Confidentiality and anonymity of the participants were assured, and it was stated that all data would be used exclusively for scientific purposes. Inclusion criteria: Male basketball players aged 14-18 years who had at least one year of basketball experience and trained a minimum of two days per week.

Exclusion criteria: Athletes who did not consent to participate in the study; those with a history of upper or lower extremity surgery within the past year; those who had sustained any musculoskeletal injury to the upper or lower extremities within the last month; and individuals with a history of neurological disorders, epilepsy, or a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Participants were randomly allocated to either the stroboscopic visual exercise group (SVT, n = 5) or the control group (CON, n = 5) using a computer-generated randomization list. The SVT group performed basketball-specific neuromuscular warm-up exercises combined with stroboscopic glasses (Senaptec Strobe, Beaverton, ABD) at a duty cycle of 100 ms clear/150 ms opaque twice per week, whereas the CON group completed the identical neuromuscular warm-up exercise protocol under normal visual conditions without visual perturbation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Yeni Mahalle
    • Sakarya, Yeni Mahalle, Turkey (Türkiye), 54400
      • Birgul Dingirdan Gultekinler

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male basketball players aged 14-18 years who had at least one year of basketball experience and trained a minimum of two days per week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes who did not consent to participate in the study; those with a history of upper or lower extremity surgery within the past year; those who had sustained any musculoskeletal injury to the upper or lower extremities within the last month; and individuals with a history of neurological disorders, epilepsy, or a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Stroboscopic visual training group (SVT); The SVT group performed basketball-specific neuromuscular warm-up exercises combined with stroboscopic glasses (Senaptec Strobe, Beaverton, ABD) at a duty cycle of 100 ms clear/150 ms opaque twice per week. Specifically, stroboscopic eyewear alternates between transparent and opaque phases at adjustable frequencies, thereby restricting the amount and continuity of visual information available to the athlete. This controlled visual disruption is thought to activate neural networks involved in visual and cognitive processing, compelling athletes to perceive, decide, and respond under conditions of reduced or intermittent visual input.	Other: Neuromuscular exercise training with stroboscopic glassess; The SVT group performed basketball-specific neuromuscular warm-up exercises combined with stroboscopic glasses (Senaptec Strobe, Beaverton, ABD) at a duty cycle of 100 ms clear/150 ms opaque twice per week, whereas the control group completed the identical neuromuscular warm-up exercise protocol under normal visual conditions without visual perturbation. Specifically, stroboscopic eyewear alternates between transparent and opaque phases at adjustable frequencies, thereby restricting the amount and continuity of visual information available to the athlete. This controlled visual disruption is thought to activate neural networks involved in visual and cognitive processing, compelling athletes to perceive, decide, and respond under conditions of reduced or intermittent visual input.
Other: Control group; Control group completed the identical neuromuscular warm-up exercise protocol under normal visual conditions without visual perturbation.	Other: Control group; The control group completed the identical neuromuscular warm-up exercise protocol under normal visual conditions without visual perturbation.; Other Names: Neuromuscular exercise training with normal visual conditions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reactive agility	Reactive agility performance was assessed using the Y-shaped agility test. The Y-shaped agility test was administered using a Witty photocell gate. The 45° angle between the midpoint of the trigger gate and the midpoints of the target gates was determined using a goniometer, and the photoelectric cells were positioned on the inner sides of the gates. Participants began the test 30 cm behind the start line and sprinted maximally through the first two gates. Immediately after completing the 5-m linear sprint by passing through the first two gates, a visual stimulus appeared on the computer screen positioned in front of the athletes. When the letter "A" was displayed, the athletes were instructed to sprint toward the cone labeled A, whereas when the letter "B" appeared, they were required to sprint toward the cone labeled B as quickly as possible. The fastest time obtained from the three trials was used for the statistical analysis.	Before the exercise program, after the exercise program and 4 weeks after
Agility	Agility performance was also assessed using the Y-shaped agility test. Prior to each trial, the athletes were informed of the direction of the turn. They were instructed to perform the change-of-direction task, which involved an approximately 45° directional change, as quickly as possible. In addition, athletes were instructed not to initiate the change of direction before passing through the trigger gate. Three trials were completed for each direction (left and right), and the fastest trial for each direction was included in the analysis.	Before the exercise program, after the exercise program and 4 weeks after

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
REAC-INDEX	The REAC-INDEX, calculated as the difference between reactive agility and agility speed, was used as an indirect indicator (proxy) of perceptual-cognitive load during reactive agility performance. REAC- INDEX (ms)= RA (ms)- A (ms)	Before the exercise program, after the exercise program and 4 weeks after

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: reactive agility; cognitive load; agility; stroboscopic visual training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Research Design; Epidemiologic Methods; Research Design; Methods; Control Groups
• Other Study ID Numbers: SUBU 4; 29.12.2025/ 2025.12.20 (Other Identifier: Ethics Committee for Non-Interventional Clinical Research Publications, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No