This randomised controlled trial will evaluate the effects of integrating a standalone mixed-reality (MR) breathing and eye-gaze training intervention (EyeBreathe) into regular basketball practice for adolescent athletes in Latvia. Participants will be individually randomised to either a six-week MR intervention (two sessions per week) or to continue usual training. Assessments before and after the intervention will measure heart rate and heart rate variability, CO₂ tolerance, breathing pattern, reactive stress tolerance, and pre-competition anxiety. Sessions will be supervised at first, then completed independently via password-protected headset profiles. Intervention adherence will be monitored. The primary efficacy analysis will use a prespecified per-protocol population, defined as intervention participants who complete at least four of the twelve scheduled sessions.
Adolescent basketball players aged 14-17 years
Organized basketball training for at least 5 years
Training at least 3 times per week
Serious musculoskeletal injury or acute medical condition affecting sports performance in the previous month
Severe orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, or other medical disorders
Use of prescription medications affecting the central nervous system (e.g., psychotropic medication)
Symptoms of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS): nausea, dizziness, headache, or disorientation before or during participation
Parallel
Breathing MR
BehavioralParticipants complete two 7-minute sessions weekly for 6 weeks (maximum 12 sessions; 84 minutes total exposure) using an HTC VIVE Focus Vision standalone head-mounted display. Seated within an approximately 1 × 1 m area, participants perform slow diaphragmatic breathing while completing a gaze-controlled virtual basketball-tracking task. Breathing pace progresses from 7 breaths/min in minute 1, to 6.5 breaths/min in minute 2, and 6 breaths/min during minutes 3-7, using a 40:60 inhalation-to-exhalation ratio. A handheld controller placed horizontally on the upper abdomen detects abdominal movement to estimate breathing phase and adherence. Accurate breathing increases virtual-player responsiveness and speed, whereas departures from the prescribed pattern reduce performance. Research staff supervise baseline testing and the first two sessions; from week 2, participants use password-protected individual profiles independently.
Reactive stress tolerance
Reactive stress tolerance will be assessed using the Vienna Test System (VTS) Determination Test, Form S1, in adaptive presentation mode (approximately 6-10 minutes). The primary measure will be the number of correct reactions, as defined by the VTS. This variable provides information on the participant's ability to respond under stress conditions. The corresponding VTS percentile rank will also be reported; a higher percentile rank indicates greater reactive stress tolerance relative to the applicable normative reference group.
Intervention adherence
Attendance among participants allocated to MR intervention arm. Reported as the number of intervention sessions completed out of 12 scheduled sessions, expressed as a percentage.
Retention rate
Proportion of enrolled participants who complete the post-intervention assessment. Reported as the number completing follow-up divided by the number enrolled.
Competitive state anxiety
Cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence subscale scores measured using the 17-item Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2R). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale.
Carbon dioxide tolerance
Exhalation duration in seconds measured using the CO₂ Tolerance Test during seated nasal breathing after a full inhalation.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
