Static Postural BalanceNCT07430384
Oculomotor Exercises and Balance in Athletes
A study testing Oculomotor Exercise Protocol and Usual Training in people with Static Postural Balance and Reaction Time, run by Sport University of Tirana at 1 site in Albania.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Static Postural Balance, Reaction Time
- What is being tested?
- Oculomotor Exercise Protocol and Usual Training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 139 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAlbania
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2024to 15 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 15 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 15-30 years
- Be engaged in the relevant sports disciplines for a minimum of 12 months, a time considered sufficient for a sports specialization.
- Healthy subjects without cardiorespiratory, psychological, vestibular, or oncological pathologies, as verified by self-declaration (Questionnaire, which is available as supplementary material) and their health booklet.
- Training in the relevant disciplines 5x/week.
- Having a visual acuity of 20/20 after testing, with or without glasses/contact lenses.
Who cannot join
- Subjects with vertigo symptoms, with divergent/convergent strabismus
- Subjects with cardiorespiratory, psychological, vestibular, or oncological problems
- Athletes under the age of 15
- Subjects with injury in the last 12 months that required medical attention, concussion, and cognitive deficits
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Improvements in Static Balance Following an Oculomotor Exercise Program 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.
Read more
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.
Read the detailed description
Babetween the visual and vestibular systems, together with proprioceptive feedback, enable the central nervous system to regulate muscle tone and maintain the center of mass within the baselance is a critical component for motor control and body stability in both daily activities and sports performance. Maintaining balance requires coordination of the vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual systems, as well as the integration of motor responses. The visual system plays a central role in perceiving body position, spatial orientation, and environmental cues, providing essential information for postural control and adaptation to movement. Interactions of support. Visual training can enhance these interactions, improving optic flow and the accuracy of information sent to vestibular and somatosensory systems, ultimately supporting postural stability.
This study focused on training the visual-vestibular system through a standardized oculomotor exercise protocol designed to stimulate functional integration across sensory systems. The protocol includes six exercises targeting eye stretching, smooth pursuit, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, saccades, and vergence/convergence. Exercises are performed in progressive postural conditions, initially with both legs and later on the dominant leg using a 10 mm rubber mat to increase vestibular challenge and promote sensorimotor adaptation. All sessions are supervised individually in a distraction-free environment to ensure consistency, progression, and adherence.
Balance performance is assessed using complementary instrumented and clinical measures to provide sensitive and reliable evaluation. Postural stability is recorded under eyes open and eyes closed conditions using the Leonardo Mechanograph, capturing detailed metrics such as ellipse area (cm²) and sway velocity (mm/s) of the center of pressure trajectory, and the Stork test (s). Standardized procedures, including familiarization trials and controlled environmental conditions, are applied to minimize variability and potential bias.
In addition to balance outcomes, reaction time is evaluated as a secondary indicator of sensorimotor processing, reflecting the efficiency of visuomotor integration following oculomotor training.
The intervention is implemented with rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance and accurate delivery of the exercises, while participants continue their usual sports training. This approach allows for the assessment of functional improvements in postural control and sensorimotor performance resulting from targeted oculomotor training, extending previous findings in clinical populations to healthy athletes in basketball, football, and boxing.
- Conditions
- Static Postural Balance, Reaction Time
- Being tested
- Oculomotor Exercise Protocol, Usual Training
- Keywords
- eye exercises, sport, vestibular system, visual system, static balance, reaction time
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Oculomotor Exercise ProtocolOther
Also called Eye Movement Exercises
Participants perform a 6-exercise oculomotor training program specifically designed to improve postural balance through the visual-vestibular-proprioceptive systems. Each session lasts 10 minutes, conducted 5 days per week for 6 weeks.
Weeks 1-4: Exercises are performed in a bipedal stance to develop basic oculomotor control.
Weeks 5-6: Exercises are progressed to a single-leg stance on a 10-mm rubber mat to further challenge the vestibular and proprioceptive systems.
Exercises include eye stretching, smooth pursuit, saccades, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, and vergence/convergence exercises.
All sessions are supervised individually by a licensed physiotherapist.
Participants continue their usual sports training during the study period.
This intervention is distinct because it combines multiple oculomotor exercises over several weeks with progressive difficulty to target balance improvements in healthy athletes, unlike
Usual TrainingOther
Participants continue their regular sports practice routine without performing any additional oculomotor exercises. This arm serves as a comparison to evaluate the effects of the oculomotor exercise protocol, isolating the impact of the experimental intervention from routine training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group (EG)-Oculomotor Exercise Protocol | Experimental | Participants perform the standardized oculomotor exercise protocol in addition to their usual sports training. Exercises are conducted daily for 10 minutes, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. During the first four weeks, exercises are performed in a bipedal stance, and during the final two weeks, exercises are progressed to a single-leg stance on the dominant leg using a 10-mm rubber mat to increase vestibular challenge and sensory stimulation. All sessions are individually supervised by a licensed physiotherapist.
Interventions:
Oculomotor exercise protocol (eye stretching, smooth pursuit, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, saccades, vergence/convergence exercises) Receives: Other: Oculomotor Exercise Protocol |
| Control Group (CG)-Usual Training | Active comparator | Participants continue their usual sports training routine without additional oculomotor exercises.
Interventions:
None / usual sports training Receives: Other: Usual Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Static balance -Stork test duration
Static balance assessed on the dominant leg with eyes open using Stork test. Duration of maintained position was recorded. Outcome expressed as duration in seconds (s).
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Static balance-Center of pressure ellipse area
Static balance assessed on the dominant leg with eyes open using the Leonardo Mechanograph system. Center of pressure ellipse area was recorded. Outcome expressed in (cm²).
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention ) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Secondary outcomes (2)
Static balance-Postural sway velocity
Static balance assessed using Leonardo Mechanograph system. Sway velocity (mm/s) was recorded during single-leg stance on the dominant leg with eyes open. Outcome values expressed in millimeters per second (mm/s).
Measured: Baseline( pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Reaction time
Reaction time performance was assessed using a Light Trainer system, and reaction time was recorded in milliseconds (ms).
Measured: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Feb 2026
- Study start20 Nov 2024
- Primary completion10 Jul 2025
- Study completion15 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Static Postural BalanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to two parallel groups: an experimental group receiving the oculomotor exercise intervention and a control group continuing their usual training. Outcome assessors are blinded to group assignment, and pre- and post-intervention measurements are collected to evaluate changes in balance and postural control.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 139 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sport University of Tirana
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Andromeda Lalaj, Sport University of Tirana
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07430384
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PROT. 3373/1
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared to protect participant privacy. Only aggregate results and findings from the study will be made publicly available through publication.
Publications
Lalaj A, Shpata V. Improvements in Static Balance Following an Oculomotor Exercise Program in Athletes. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2026 Sep 1;26(3):355-368.
PubMed 42675939
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Improvements in Static Balance Following an Oculomotor Exercise Program in Athletes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07430384
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PROT. 3373/1
- Conditions
- Static Postural Balance, Reaction Time
- Keywords
- eye exercises, sport, vestibular system, visual system, static balance, reaction time
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 139 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Sport University of TiranaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
Babetween the visual and vestibular systems, together with proprioceptive feedback, enable the central nervous system to regulate muscle tone and maintain the center of mass within the baselance is a critical component for motor control and body stability in both daily activities and sports performance. Maintaining balance requires coordination of the vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual systems, as well as the integration of motor responses. The visual system plays a central role in perceiving body position, spatial orientation, and environmental cues, providing essential information for postural control and adaptation to movement. Interactions of support. Visual training can enhance these interactions, improving optic flow and the accuracy of information sent to vestibular and somatosensory systems, ultimately supporting postural stability.
This study focused on training the visual-vestibular system through a standardized oculomotor exercise protocol designed to stimulate functional integration across sensory systems. The protocol includes six exercises targeting eye stretching, smooth pursuit, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, saccades, and vergence/convergence. Exercises are performed in progressive postural conditions, initially with both legs and later on the dominant leg using a 10 mm rubber mat to increase vestibular challenge and promote sensorimotor adaptation. All sessions are supervised individually in a distraction-free environment to ensure consistency, progression, and adherence.
Balance performance is assessed using complementary instrumented and clinical measures to provide sensitive and reliable evaluation. Postural stability is recorded under eyes open and eyes closed conditions using the Leonardo Mechanograph, capturing detailed metrics such as ellipse area (cm²) and sway velocity (mm/s) of the center of pressure trajectory, and the Stork test (s). Standardized procedures, including familiarization trials and controlled environmental conditions, are applied to minimize variability and potential bias.
In addition to balance outcomes, reaction time is evaluated as a secondary indicator of sensorimotor processing, reflecting the efficiency of visuomotor integration following oculomotor training.
The intervention is implemented with rigorous monitoring to ensure compliance and accurate delivery of the exercises, while participants continue their usual sports training. This approach allows for the assessment of functional improvements in postural control and sensorimotor performance resulting from targeted oculomotor training, extending previous findings in clinical populations to healthy athletes in basketball, football, and boxing.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants are randomly assigned to two parallel groups: an experimental group receiving the oculomotor exercise intervention and a control group continuing their usual training. Outcome assessors are blinded to group assignment, and pre- and post-intervention measurements are collected to evaluate changes in balance and postural control.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Group (EG)-Oculomotor Exercise Protocol | Experimental | Other: Oculomotor Exercise ProtocolParticipants perform the standardized oculomotor exercise protocol in addition to their usual sports training. Exercises are conducted daily for 10 minutes, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. During the first four weeks, exercises are performed in a bipedal stance, and during the final two weeks, exercises are progressed to a single-leg stance on the dominant leg using a 10-mm rubber mat to increase vestibular challenge and sensory stimulation. All sessions are individually supervised by a licensed physiotherapist. Interventions: Oculomotor exercise protocol (eye stretching, smooth pursuit, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, saccades, vergence/convergence exercises) |
| Control Group (CG)-Usual Training | Active comparator | Other: Usual TrainingParticipants continue their usual sports training routine without additional oculomotor exercises. Interventions: None / usual sports training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age 15-30 years
- Be engaged in the relevant sports disciplines for a minimum of 12 months, a time considered sufficient for a sports specialization.
- Healthy subjects without cardiorespiratory, psychological, vestibular, or oncological pathologies, as verified by self-declaration (Questionnaire, which is available as supplementary material) and their health booklet.
- Training in the relevant disciplines 5x/week.
- Having a visual acuity of 20/20 after testing, with or without glasses/contact lenses.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Subjects with vertigo symptoms, with divergent/convergent strabismus
- Subjects with cardiorespiratory, psychological, vestibular, or oncological problems
- Athletes under the age of 15
- Subjects with injury in the last 12 months that required medical attention, concussion, and cognitive deficits
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Oculomotor Exercise ProtocolAlso: Eye Movement ExercisesParticipants perform a 6-exercise oculomotor training program specifically designed to improve postural balance through the visual-vestibular-proprioceptive systems. Each session lasts 10 minutes, conducted 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Weeks 1-4: Exercises are performed in a bipedal stance to develop basic oculomotor control. Weeks 5-6: Exercises are progressed to a single-leg stance on a 10-mm rubber mat to further challenge the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. Exercises include eye stretching, smooth pursuit, saccades, gaze stabilization, spatial localization, and vergence/convergence exercises. All sessions are supervised individually by a licensed physiotherapist. Participants continue their usual sports training during the study period. This intervention is distinct because it combines multiple oculomotor exercises over several weeks with progressive difficulty to target balance improvements in healthy athletes, unlike | Other | Experimental Group (EG)-Oculomotor Exercise Protocol |
| Usual TrainingParticipants continue their regular sports practice routine without performing any additional oculomotor exercises. This arm serves as a comparison to evaluate the effects of the oculomotor exercise protocol, isolating the impact of the experimental intervention from routine training. | Other | Control Group (CG)-Usual Training |
Primary outcome
Static balance -Stork test duration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Static balance assessed on the dominant leg with eyes open using Stork test. Duration of maintained position was recorded. Outcome expressed as duration in seconds (s).
Static balance-Center of pressure ellipse area
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention ) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Static balance assessed on the dominant leg with eyes open using the Leonardo Mechanograph system. Center of pressure ellipse area was recorded. Outcome expressed in (cm²).
2 secondary outcomes
Static balance-Postural sway velocity
Time frame: Baseline( pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Reaction time
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Mar 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42675939Lalaj A, Shpata V. Improvements in Static Balance Following an Oculomotor Exercise Program in Athletes. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2026 Sep 1;26(3):355-368.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared to protect participant privacy. Only aggregate results and findings from the study will be made publicly available through publication.
Related trials for Static Postural Balance
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Postural Control and Balance Performance in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Postural Assessment
Active, not recruiting
Balance Training Versus Traditional Physical Education in High School Students
Postural Balance
Not yet recruiting
Effects of Different Music Tempi on Balance and Ankle Proprioception in Healthy Young Adults
Postural Balance, Ankle Proprioception
Active, not recruitingObservational study
Evaluation of Spinal Posture, Balance, and Core Muscle Endurance in Individuals With Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis of Both Feet
Active, not recruiting
Acute Effects of Oculomotor Exercises on Posturography and Gait Analysis Parameters in Regular Exercisers
Postural Balance, Gait Analysis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Oculomotor Exercise Protocol and Usual Training in people with Static Postural Balance and Reaction Time, run by Sport University of Tirana at 1 site in Albania.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Albania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Static balance -Stork test duration (time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 6 weeks (post-intervention)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07430384, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2026.