Athletic Performance, Exercise-Induced Upper Extremity Fatigue, Hand-Eye Coordination
Conditions
Brief summary
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the acute effects of neural mobilization and dynamic stretching after upper extremity fatigue on upper extremity performance and hand-eye coordination in amateur athletes. Participants were amateur athletes aged 18 to 25 years who regularly participated in sports involving active use of the upper extremity. After baseline assessment, all participants completed a standardized upper extremity fatigue protocol. They were then randomly allocated to one of three groups: neural mobilization, dynamic stretching, or passive rest. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after fatigue, and after the assigned recovery intervention or rest period. The study aimed to determine whether active recovery strategies, particularly neural mobilization, provide greater short-term recovery of upper extremity performance and hand-eye coordination compared with passive rest.
Interventions
OTHERNeural Mobilization
Upper extremity neural mobilization was applied after the standardized fatigue protocol. The intervention targeted the median, radial, and ulnar nerves using non-painful mobilization techniques. Each technique was performed for 2 sets of 20 repetitions, with each repetition lasting approximately 1 to 3 seconds
OTHERDynamic Stretching
A structured dynamic stretching protocol was performed after the standardized fatigue protocol. The protocol lasted approximately 10 minutes and included dynamic upper extremity and whole-body movements such as arm swings, arm crossovers, walking lunges with trunk rotation, lateral shuffling, heel kicks, inchworms, and modified shuttle movements.
Sponsors
Uludag University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Outcome assessments were performed by assessors who were not involved in administering the interventions and were blinded to group allocation.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged between 18 and 25 years * Amateur athlete participating in a sport requiring active use of the upper extremity, such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, or table tennis * Able to understand and perform the fatigue protocol, recovery intervention, and outcome assessments * Volunteered to participate and provided written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Current upper extremity, cervical, or trunk pain or injury that could affect test performance * History of upper extremity surgery, fracture, or major musculoskeletal trauma that could limit participation * Neurological, vestibular, or systemic condition affecting upper extremity function, balance, coordination, or exercise tolerance * Any cardiovascular, respiratory, or medical condition contraindicating participation in fatiguing upper extremity exercise * Inability to complete the fatigue protocol or outcome assessments safely
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test | Baseline, immediately after the fatigue protocol, and after the 15-minute recovery period | Hand-eye coordination was assessed using the Alternate Hand Wall Toss Test. Participants stood 2 meters from a wall and repeatedly threw a ball against the wall, catching it with the opposite hand. The number of successful catches completed within 30 seconds was recorded. Higher scores indicate better hand-eye coordination performance. |
| Upper Quarter Y Balance Test | Baseline, immediately after the fatigue protocol, and after the 15-minute recovery period | Upper quarter dynamic balance was assessed using the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test. Participants maintained a push-up position and reached with the free hand in the medial, superolateral, and inferolateral directions. Reach distances were recorded and used to calculate a composite score normalized to upper limb length. Higher scores indicate better upper quarter dynamic balance performance. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test | Baseline, immediately after the fatigue protocol, and after the 15-minute recovery period | Upper extremity functional performance was assessed using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. Participants performed alternating hand touches across two marked lines while maintaining a push-up position. The number of touches completed within 15 seconds was recorded. Higher scores indicate better upper extremity functional performance. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed