The Effect of Neuromotor-Cognitive Training on Performance Dancers (NCT-DANCE)

July 23, 2026 updated by: Yeditepe University

The Effect of Neuromotor-Cognitive Training on Dynamic Balance, Reaction Time and Sensorimotor Performance in Performance Dancers

This prospective randomized controlled study aims to evaluate the effects of neuromotor-cognitive training on dynamic balance, reaction time, and sensorimotor performance in performance dancers.

The main hypotheses are:

H0: There is no difference in dynamic balance, reaction time, and sensorimotor performance between performance dancers who receive neuromotor-cognitive training and those who follow their routine training schedule.

H1: Performance dancers who receive neuromotor-cognitive training show significant improvements in dynamic balance, reaction time, and sensorimotor performance compared to those who follow their routine training schedule.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Performance dancers from the Aytunç Bentürk Dance Academy who meet the eligibility criteria will be included in this prospective randomized controlled study to demonstrate the efficacy of technology-supported training methods. Participants will be randomly allocated into two distinct groups using a standardized allocation protocol: the Neuromotor-Cognitive Training Group (Experimental Arm) and the Routine Training Group (Control Arm).

The Neuromotor-Cognitive Training Group will undergo a structured, technology-supported training protocol incorporating visual stimulus systems to enhance neuromuscular control and cognitive processing speed. The Control Group will maintain their regular and routine dance practice routines during the study period without any additional structured experimental protocols.

Prior to the commencement of the intervention, all participants will be fully informed about the study procedures, and their formal consent will be obtained. Socio-demographic characteristics and baseline professional dance history will be documented using a structured evaluation form.

Objective pre- and post-test assessments will be conducted for both groups to evaluate sensorimotor adaptation. Dynamic balance, designated as the primary outcome measure, will be evaluated using the standardized Y-Balance Test. Secondary outcome measures, including objective reaction time and neuromuscular performance under cognitive load, will be rigorously quantified in milliseconds utilizing the BLAZEPOD® visual stimulus system along with the Reactive Jumping and Landing Test. All final measurements will be statistically analyzed using correlation and inter-rater reliability metrics to determine inter-group differences.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being a professional or performance dancer actively training at the Aytunç Bentürk Dance Academy.
  • Being between 18 and 25 years of age.
  • Volunteering to participate in the study and providing written informed consent.
  • Having no orthopedic, neurological, or systemic injuries in the lower extremities within the last 6 months that could affect balance and motor performance.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having a history of major orthopedic surgery in the lower extremities.
  • Any uncorrected visual or vestibular impairments that could negatively affect reaction time or postural control.
  • Acute musculoskeletal pain or injury during the baseline assessment period.
  • Failure to complete the baseline measurements or formal training sessions.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Neuromotor-Cognitive Training Group
This group will receive a structured, technology-supported training protocol incorporating visual stimulus systems (such as BLAZEPOD®) alongside their routine training schedule to enhance neuromuscular control, dynamic balance, and cognitive processing speed.
Behavioral: Neuromotor-Cognitive Training
A structured, technology-supported training protocol incorporating visual stimulus systems to enhance neuromuscular control, dynamic balance, and cognitive processing speed.
No Intervention: Routine Training Group
This group will maintain their regular and routine dance practice schedules at the academy during the study period, without receiving any additional technology-supported neuromotor-cognitive training protocols.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Y-Balance Test (YBT)
Time Frame: The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026
The Y-Balance Test will be used as the primary outcome measure to objectively evaluate the dynamic balance and postural control of the performance dancers. Participants will perform maximal reach tasks in three distinct directions: anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral, while standing on a single limb. The reach distances will be normalized to the participant's leg length, and a comprehensive composite score will be calculated. Higher composite scores represent superior dynamic balance and enhanced neuromuscular control.
The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Reactive Jumping and Landing Test
Time Frame: The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026
This test will be implemented to assess sensorimotor performance and dynamic neuromuscular control during high-intensity functional movements. Dancers will perform jump-landing sequences in response to sudden, dynamic visual cues that change in real-time. The test quantifies movement execution and lower extremity coordination under cognitive load, providing critical metrics for sensorimotor adaptation and injury risk screening in performance dancers.
The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026
Y-Shaped Reactive Agility Test
Time Frame: The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026
This test will be used to evaluate the reactive agility and rapid directional change performance of the dancers under visual cognitive load. Participants will accelerate toward a central point and execute a sudden change of direction (left or right) based on a randomized visual stimulus. The total completion time of the trial will be recorded using an electronic timing system. Shorter completion times indicate superior reactive agility and faster neuromuscular processing.
The 8-week period between July 2026 and September 2026

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Yeditepe University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 27, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • yeditepe05

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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