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

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.

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).