An XR-based multisensory feedback system for real-time sprint technique optimization in track athletes

The developing possibilities of extended reality technologies provide promising opportunities for enhancing motor skill acquisition, although evidence with regard to their efficacy within elite athletic populations remains limited. This study sought to determine whether extended reality-based multisensory feedback enhanced sprint performance and explored the neural and biomechanical mechanisms that may underpin this effect. Thirty national-level sprinters were randomized to an extended reality feedback, video feedback, or control conditions and completed a twelve-week intervention with a four-week retention assessment. Performance was quantified with 30-m and 100-m sprint times, biomechanics through force plate and motion capture analysis, and neurophysiology via functional near-infrared spectroscopy and electroencephalography. The XR-FB group demonstrated a 2.81% improvement in 30-m sprint performance with 0.62 transfer ratio to 100-m performance, significantly surpassing other groups. Neurophysiological measures showed a 20% decrease in prefrontal cortex activation and 15.4% reduction in theta/beta ratio, indicative of enhanced neural efficiency. Supporting biomechanical adaptations indicated optimization of force application timing without altered movement geometry. Serial mediation analysis revealed 72% of the performance effect was explained through the neural efficiency to neuromuscular coordination pathway. At four-week follow-up, the XR-FB group maintained 82-89% of gains compared to 67-73% for video feedback. These findings provide initial evidence that the integrated XR-based multisensory feedback protocol is associated with neural efficiency adaptations and durable performance enhancements in elite sprinters.