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

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Neuroscience
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Extended reality (XR) technologies offer potential for motor skill enhancement.
• Evidence for XR efficacy in elite athletes, particularly sprinters, is limited.
• Understanding the neural and biomechanical mechanisms of XR feedback is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if XR-based multisensory feedback improves sprint performance in elite sprinters.
• To explore the underlying neural and biomechanical adaptations associated with XR feedback.
• To assess the durability of performance enhancements and compare XR feedback with traditional video feedback.

Main Methods:

• Thirty national-level sprinters were assigned to XR feedback, video feedback, or control groups for a 12-week intervention.
• Performance was measured using 30-m and 100-m sprint times.
• Neurophysiological (fNIRS, EEG) and biomechanical (force plates, motion capture) analyses were conducted.

Main Results:

• The XR feedback group showed a significant 2.81% improvement in 30-m sprint times, with a 0.62 transfer ratio to 100-m performance.
• Neurophysiological changes included a 20% decrease in prefrontal cortex activation and a 15.4% reduction in the theta/beta ratio, indicating enhanced neural efficiency.
• Biomechanical analysis revealed optimized force application timing without changes in movement geometry.
• Serial mediation analysis indicated that 72% of the performance improvement was mediated by neural efficiency and neuromuscular coordination.

Conclusions:

• Integrated XR-based multisensory feedback enhances neural efficiency and leads to durable performance improvements in elite sprinters.
• XR feedback offers a promising avenue for optimizing athletic training and motor skill acquisition.
• The findings provide initial evidence for the effectiveness of XR technology in elite sports performance.