Oculomotor Exercises and Balance in Athletes

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the effects of a six-week eye-movement exercise program on balance in athletes aged 15 to 30 years participating in basketball, football, and boxing. The main question it aims to answer whether performing daily exercises based on a standardized protocol improves balance and functional interaction among the oculomotor, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. Participants will perform six different exercises daily for 10 minutes over six weeks. During the first four weeks, exercises are performed on both legs, while in the last two weeks, exercises are performed on the dominant leg on a 10 mm rubber mat to increase vestibular challenge and stimulate functional integration among the sensory systems. Balance will be assessed using the Leonardo system and the Stork test (s), focusing on single-leg stance on the dominant leg with eyes open during the last two weeks of training. Reaction time will also be evaluated as a secondary outcome to provide additional insight into sensorimotor performance. All participants provided informed consent, and for those under 18 years of age, parental consent was obtained. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Sports of Tirana.

NCT Number	NCT07430384
Lead Sponsor	Sport University of Tirana
Conditions	Static Postural Balance, Reaction Time
Enrollment	139 participants
Start Date	2024-11-20
Primary Completion	2025-07-10 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-07-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-03-03