Brain priming before weights: a new edge for athletes?
NCT ID NCT07782606
First seen Aug 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This trial asks whether adding neuroathletic training (NAT) drills—like visual, balance, and body-awareness exercises—to a standard lower-body resistance workout can improve sprint speed, jump height, hamstring strength, flexibility, and left-right symmetry in collegiate athletes. Fifty-eight athletes will complete two identical training sessions, one with the extra NAT drills and one without, and their performance will be measured before and up to 30 minutes after each session. The goal is to see if priming the nervous system before lifting can enhance the immediate benefits of strength training.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Neuroathletic training-integrated resistance training (adding visual, vestibular, gaze-stabilization, and proprioceptive drills to standard lower-extremity exercises)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this approach could offer athletes a simple way to enhance strength and power gains from their existing training routines.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in a specific group of collegiate athletes, so results may not apply to other populations. The benefits, if any, may be short-lived and not translate to real-world performance.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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58 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 25 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Were collegiate athletes participating in organized sport training. * Had participated in regular sport-specific training for at least one year. * Had previous experience with lower-extremity resistance training. * Had previous experience with the exercises used in the study, including leg press, Romanian deadlift, leg extension, seated leg curl, dumbbell step-up, and Copenhagen exercise. * Were familiar with maximal or near-maximal sprinting, jumping, and lower-limb strength testing. * Were able to complete 5-meter sprint testing, bilateral and unilateral jump testing, Nordic hamstring testing, sit-and-reach flexibility testing, and the resistance training protocols. * Were able to perform maximal or near-maximal lower-limb tasks without pain or movement restriction. * Agreed to attend both experimental sessions and all measurement time points. Exclusion Criteria: * Had an acute lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury during the previous three months. * Had a hamstring strain, quadriceps strain, groin injury, ankle sprain, knee injury, hip injury, or low back pain limiting sport participation during the previous three months. * Had undergone lower-extremity surgery during the previous 12 months. * Experienced current pain during sprinting, jumping, Nordic hamstring testing, flexibility testing, or resistance exercise. * Had a neurological disorder. * Had diagnosed vestibular dysfunction. * Had recurrent vertigo or unexplained dizziness. * Had severe motion sensitivity. * Had a balance disturbance. * Had uncorrected visual impairment. * Had diplopia or severe visual tracking difficulties. * Had any condition preventing safe completion of eye-occlusion or gaze-stabilization exercises. * Had experienced concussion within the previous six months. * Had persistent post-concussion symptoms. * Had cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or systemic disease limiting high-intensity exercise. * Used medication known to influence balance, alertness, reaction time, exercise tolerance, or neuromuscular performance. * Failed to comply with pre-test instructions. * Failed to attend both experimental sessions. * Had incomplete data at any measurement time point.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Kütahya Dumlupınar University
Kütahya, 43100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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