Integrating stroboscopic visual perturbation into a neuromuscular warm-up in adolescent male basketball players:...

Basketball is an open-skill sport that requires rapid processing of visual information and appropriate motor responses in dynamic environments. Stroboscopic visual training has been proposed as a method to increase perceptual-cognitive demands by intermittently restricting visual input.

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 40 male basketball players aged 14-18 years from two basketball clubs were included in the study (mean age: 15.35 ± 1.16 years; mean sports experience: 4.40 ± 1.87 years). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a basketball-specific neuromuscular warm-up program performed under stroboscopic visual perturbation on cognitive function, physical performance, and postural stability in adolescent male basketball players. Cognitive function was assessed using the CNS Vital Signs battery. Physical performance was evaluated using the Y-shaped agility test, the V-cut test, and countermovement jump performance. Static and dynamic postural stability were assessed using force-platform measures and the Y Balance Test. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.

Significant time effects were observed for several outcomes, including cognitive function, jump performance, change-of-direction ability, reactive agility total time, and dynamic balance (p < 0.05). However, no significant group × time interactions were found for these variables. In contrast, significant interactions were found for the temporal subcomponents of reactive agility, specifically reaction time (p = 0.004) and decision-making time (p < 0.001), indicating greater improvements in the stroboscopic visual training group.

Integrating stroboscopic visual perturbation into a neuromuscular warm-up program may selectively enhance the perceptual-cognitive components of reactive agility in adolescent male basketball players. However, it does not appear to provide additional benefits for overall cognitive performance, jump performance, change-of-direction ability, or postural stability. These findings suggest that stroboscopic visual perturbation may be a practical complementary training strategy targeting stimulus-driven perceptual-motor processes rather than global performance capacities.

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration Number: NCT07168681, Approval Date: 12/08/2025).