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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07749144

Effects of Weekly Basketball Training Distribution on Executive Function in Adolescents

his study examined whether different ways of distributing the same weekly amount of basketball training affect executive function in adolescents. A total of 120 adolescents were randomly assigned to one of three groups: weekday-distributed basketball training, weekend-concentrated basketball training, or a control group that continued its usual activities.

Participants in both basketball training groups completed 180 minutes of training per week for 8 weeks. The weekday-distributed group trained for 36 minutes per session, five days per week, whereas the weekend-concentrated group trained for 90 minutes per session, two days per week. Executive function was assessed before and after the intervention.

The study aimed to determine whether basketball training improves executive function compared with usual activities and whether distributing the same weekly training volume across weekdays produces different effects from concentrating the training on weekends.

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Key information

Conditions

Executive Function in Healthy Adolescents Adolescent Development Physical Fitness

Age range

13 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Xi'an Medical University

Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 13 to 16 years at enrollment.
  • Enrolled in the participating local middle school.
  • Medically eligible to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise.
  • No systematic basketball or other sport-specific training during the 3 months before enrollment.
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and able to complete the computerized cognitive tasks.
  • Available to participate in the 8-week intervention and complete all scheduled assessments.
  • Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian and assent provided by the participant.

Exclusion criteria

  • Any illness or musculoskeletal injury that could prevent safe participation in basketball training.
  • Current participation in another structured exercise, sport-specific training, or cognitive-training program.
  • Any visual, neurological, or other condition that could interfere with completion of the computerized cognitive tasks.
  • Medical advice or contraindications against participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise.

Treatment and study plan

Weekday-Distributed Basketball Training

Behavioral

Participants completed basketball training five days per week for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 36 minutes, resulting in a total weekly training volume of 180 minutes.

Weekend-Concentrated Basketball Training

Radiation

Participants completed basketball training two days per week for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 90 minutes, resulting in a total weekly training volume of 180 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in Flanker Reaction-Time Interference Effect

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Inhibitory control was assessed using a computerized Flanker task at baseline and immediately after the intervention. The reaction-time interference effect was calculated as the mean reaction time for incongruent trials minus the mean reaction time for congruent trials and was expressed in milliseconds. Change from baseline was calculated as the post-intervention value minus the baseline value. Lower interference scores indicate better inhibitory control, and a negative change indicates improvement.

  2. Change From Baseline in 1-Back Task Accuracy

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Working memory was assessed using a computerized 1-back task at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Performance was measured as the percentage of correct responses, ranging from 0% to 100%. Change from baseline was calculated as the post-intervention accuracy minus the baseline accuracy. Higher accuracy scores indicate better working memory performance, and a positive change indicates improvement.

  3. Change From Baseline in More-Odd Shifting Task Switching Cost

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 8-week intervention

    Cognitive flexibility was assessed using a computerized More-Odd Shifting task at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Switching cost was calculated as the mean reaction time for switch trials minus the mean reaction time for repeat trials and was expressed in milliseconds. Change from baseline was calculated as the post-intervention value minus the baseline value. Lower switching-cost values indicate better cognitive flexibility, and a negative change indicates improvement.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Xi'an Medical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Volume-Matched Weekday-Distributed Versus Weekend-Concentrated Basketball Training on Executive Function in Adolescents: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: VMBT-EF

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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