Motor Imagery Training and Shooting Performance in Adolescent Basketball Players

August 29, 2026 updated by: Mertkan Öncü, Uludag University

Effects of Motor Imagery Training on Shooting Performance Under Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Conditions in Adolescent Basketball Players

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of an eight-week motor imagery training program on shooting performance in adolescent basketball players under single-task and cognitive-motor dual-task conditions. Thirty male basketball players aged 15-17 years were randomly assigned to either a motor imagery group or a control group. Both groups continued their routine basketball training, while the motor imagery group additionally completed a structured PETTLEP-based motor imagery program three times per week for eight weeks. Two-point and three-point shooting performance was assessed before and after the intervention under both single-task and cognitive-motor dual-task conditions. The study aimed to determine whether adding motor imagery training to routine basketball training improves shooting performance and the ability to maintain shooting performance while simultaneously performing a cognitive task.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

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 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

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male basketball players aged 15-17 years.
  • Regular participation in basketball training.
  • Voluntary participation in the study.
  • Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian and assent from the participant.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of a musculoskeletal injury or health condition that could prevent participation in basketball training or performance testing.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Motor Imagery Group
Participants in this arm continued their routine basketball training and additionally completed a structured PETTLEP-based motor imagery training program three times per week for eight weeks. Each motor imagery session lasted approximately 20-30 minutes and was performed before routine basketball training. The imagery exercises emphasized an internal visual perspective and kinesthetic sensations related to basketball shooting performance.
Behavioral: PETTLEP-Based Motor Imagery Training
Participants completed a structured PETTLEP-based motor imagery training program three times per week for eight weeks, in addition to their routine basketball training. Each session lasted approximately 20-30 minutes and was performed before routine basketball training. The program was structured according to the PETTLEP model (Physical, Environment, Task, Timing, Learning, Emotion, and Perspective) and adapted to basketball shooting. Participants predominantly used an internal visual perspective and were instructed to imagine kinesthetic sensations associated with shooting, including ball release, wrist movement, jumping, balance, and the ball entering the basket.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants in this arm continued their routine basketball training throughout the eight-week study period and did not receive any additional motor imagery intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Two-Point Shooting Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Two-point shooting performance was assessed using the basketball-specific shooting test described by Pojskic et al. (2011). Participants moved between six designated two-point shooting positions and attempted shots after receiving a pass. The test lasted 60 seconds, and the total number of successful two-point shots was recorded as the performance score. The test was performed three times with full recovery between trials, and the best score was used for analysis. Higher scores indicate better shooting performance.
Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Three-Point Shooting Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Three-point shooting performance was assessed using the basketball-specific shooting test described by Pojskic et al. (2011). Participants moved between six designated three-point shooting positions and attempted shots after receiving a pass. The test lasted 60 seconds, and the total number of successful three-point shots was recorded as the performance score. The test was performed three times with full recovery between trials, and the best score was used for analysis. Higher scores indicate better shooting performance.
Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Two-Point Shooting Performance Under Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Conditions
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Two-point shooting performance under cognitive-motor dual-task conditions was assessed while participants performed the standard two-point shooting test concurrently with a verbal cognitive task. The test lasted 60 seconds, and the total number of successful two-point shots was recorded as the performance score. Cognitive-task accuracy and number of responses were not assessed; therefore, dual-task performance was evaluated based solely on shooting performance under concurrent cognitive load. Higher scores indicate better shooting performance under dual-task conditions.
Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Three-Point Shooting Performance Under Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Conditions
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention
Three-point shooting performance under cognitive-motor dual-task conditions was assessed while participants performed the standard three-point shooting test concurrently with a verbal cognitive task. The test lasted 60 seconds, and the total number of successful three-point shots was recorded as the performance score. Cognitive-task accuracy and number of responses were not assessed; therefore, dual-task performance was evaluated based solely on shooting performance under concurrent cognitive load. Higher scores indicate better shooting performance under dual-task conditions.
Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Uludag University

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Sadettin Erol, PhD, Uludag University

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 (Actual)

April 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 20, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

June 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 29, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026/176/6/23

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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.

Subscribe