Effects of Visualization Technique Compared to Combined Stretching Protocol in Racquet Sports.

NCT ID: NCT07028931

Last Updated: 2025-06-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 52 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-02
• Study Completion Date: 2025-08-30

Brief Summary

This study intends to compare the effects of visualization technique with combined stretching protocol on racquet sports players to find out how these protocols affect their performance and mindfulness.

Detailed Description

In this study, two groups will be formed to find out the effects of visualization technique, i.e., mental imagery versus the combined stretching protocol, on racquet sports players over a course of 6 weeks. One group is given the mental imagery protocol, and the other group is given the combined stretching protocol, and at the end of the 1st, 3rd, and 6th weeks, readings are taken to compare the effects of these techniques on the mindfulness (awareness) and performance of the subjects enrolled in this study. A total of 52 participants will be involved, and the groups will be divided into 26, 26 each. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 21.

Conditions

Sport Injury

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Visualization Technique

This will include the visualization group, i.e., group A, which will receive the mental imagery technique, which will take 15-20 minutes. Participants will be asked to start the session with breathing exercises, then move on to the visualization of the exercises, and then end the session with the visualization of the cool-down exercises. In Group A, participants will only visualize the protocol and will not perform it physically.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Visualization technique

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

In GROUP A, i.e., visualization technique Athletes will be shown a video of stretching protocols and then will be asked to visualize those exercises, the total session time will be approximately 20 minutes which will be divided into three phases: pre-Session visualization (5-10 minutes) which will begin with 1-2 minutes of deep breathing and mental preparation to start visualization technique then players will be asked to visualize dynamic stretching (leg swings, arm circles, and lunges) and static stretching (hamstring and shoulder stretch) for 2-3 minutes each. Then begins the during session visualization phase (1-2 minutes per stretch) the players will be asked to pause before each stretch to visualize the movements, muscle engagement and the feeling of stretch and the transit between the stretches and then last comes the post session phase of visualization (5 minutes) this will involve visualization of cool down exercises like spinal twist, bicep stretch, triceps and hip stretch.

Combined Stretching Technique

In Group B, the participants will be asked to perform a combined stretching protocol, which will include a warm-up, the combined stretching protocol, i.e., hip flexor and hamstring combo, calf and Achilles stretch and spinal twist, and arm extension movements, and then the cool-down exercises, which will include hip flexor stretch, quadriceps stretch and calf stretch, biceps stretch, and triceps stretch. This protocol will take 20 minutes.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combined Stretching Protocol

Intervention Type: OTHER

GROUP B will receive Combined stretching training protocol. The overall duration will be 20 minutes starting from warm up (5-7 minutes) which will include light jogging arm swings, leg swings and lunges, hamstring and shoulder stretches then followed by combined stretching movements (8-10 minutes) this will include hip flexor and hamstring combo, calf and Achilles stretch and spinal twist and arm extension movements and ending with a cool down protocol (5-7 minutes) which will include hip flexor stretch, quadriceps stretch and calf stretch, bicep and triceps stretch.

Interventions

Visualization technique

In GROUP A, i.e., visualization technique Athletes will be shown a video of stretching protocols and then will be asked to visualize those exercises, the total session time will be approximately 20 minutes which will be divided into three phases: pre-Session visualization (5-10 minutes) which will begin with 1-2 minutes of deep breathing and mental preparation to start visualization technique then players will be asked to visualize dynamic stretching (leg swings, arm circles, and lunges) and static stretching (hamstring and shoulder stretch) for 2-3 minutes each. Then begins the during session visualization phase (1-2 minutes per stretch) the players will be asked to pause before each stretch to visualize the movements, muscle engagement and the feeling of stretch and the transit between the stretches and then last comes the post session phase of visualization (5 minutes) this will involve visualization of cool down exercises like spinal twist, bicep stretch, triceps and hip stretch.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Combined Stretching Protocol

GROUP B will receive Combined stretching training protocol. The overall duration will be 20 minutes starting from warm up (5-7 minutes) which will include light jogging arm swings, leg swings and lunges, hamstring and shoulder stretches then followed by combined stretching movements (8-10 minutes) this will include hip flexor and hamstring combo, calf and Achilles stretch and spinal twist and arm extension movements and ending with a cool down protocol (5-7 minutes) which will include hip flexor stretch, quadriceps stretch and calf stretch, bicep and triceps stretch.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Males.
• Age 20 to 40 years.
• Not being able to concentrate/ focus well on the game.
• Amateur players with at least 1 year experience of playing Racquet sports.
• No current injuries or medical conditions that could affect participation in physical activities.
• Commitment to attend all training sessions and assessments

Exclusion Criteria

• Players who are already familiar with visualization technique
• Recent chronic injuries that could impair performance or participation
• History of psychological disorder that might interfere with the training and assessment.
• Participation in other competitive sports that might confound the effects of intervention.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Riafat Mehmood, PhD*

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Pakistan Sports Board

Islamabad, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

Riafat Mehmood, PhD*

Role: CONTACT

riafat.mehmood@riphah.edu.pk

03132139115

Facility Contacts

Pakistan Sports Board Islamabad

Role: primary

infopsb@sports.gov.pk

0519249035

Other Identifiers

REC 02059 ARINA ASAD

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id