Neuromuscular Training: A progressive neuromuscular exercise program including dynamic warm-up, aerobic exercises, functional strengthening of lower and upper extremity muscles, core stabilization training, and reaction drills performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Duration and repetitions increase biweekly according to a structured progression protocol.
Physical Activity Counseling: Structured physical activity counseling based on ACSM 5A principles (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) delivered weekly for 8 weeks to promote sustainable physical activity behaviors and reduce sedentary time during esports training routines.
Study summary
Professional esports players engage in prolonged training sessions and experience high physical and mental stress due to intensive competition schedules. These demands can lead to increased fatigue, decreased performance, and health problems. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether adding a structured neuromuscular exercise program to routine esports training reduces fatigue and stress biomarkers and improves performance-related outcomes in professional esports players.
Eligibility
Sex
MALE
Min age
18 Years
Max age
35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age between 18-35 years
* Currently competing as a contracted professional esports player
* Playing one of the following games at a professional level:
League of Legends, Counter Strike 2, Overwatch, Valorant, Apex Legends, DOTA2, Rocket League, PUBG
* Participating in ≥35 hours/week of training with their team
* Voluntary agreement to participate and sign informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* History or presence of medical conditions affecting safety or performance: metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, or respiratory disorders
* Playing esports only at amateur or beginner level
* Answering "Yes" to any item in the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
Removal Criteria:
* Participating in \<35 hours/week esports training during the study
* Missing ≥2 neuromuscular training sessions (intervention group)
* Leaving their professional esports organization (roster removal, retirement, etc.)
* Any illness or injury preventing continuation of esports participation
Primary outcome measure(s)
Serum cortisol level - Stress Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks Serum cortisol level will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
Testosterone level - Stress Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks Testosterone level will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
C-Reactive Protein Level (CRP) - Fatigue Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks Serum CRP levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
Creatine Kinase (CK) Level - Fatigue Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks. Creatine kinase levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
Vitamin B12 Level - Fatigue Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks. Serum vitamin B12 levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
Ferritin Level - Fatigue Biomarkers — Baseline and 8 weeks. Serum ferritin levels will be analyzed under fasting conditions using standardized laboratory protocols.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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