Abstract
Athletic performance often requires rapid responses to unpredictable and environmentally reactive stimuli, highlighting the importance of neurocognitive function. Emerging evidence suggests that integrating neurocognitive and neuromuscular exercises may enhance skill performance and reduce injury risk during competition. These exercises, targeting reaction time, decision-making, audio and visual processing, memory, and dual-tasking may influence both injury incidence and biomechanics. This study evaluated the effects of neurocognitive and neuromuscular training across a collegiate men’s volleyball season, focusing on injury risk and skill performance outcomes (attack percentage and service error percentage). Athletes were randomly assigned to either a neurocognitive condition (NEURO) or a control condition (CON). The NEURO condition completed progressive neurocognitive and neuromuscular exercises throughout the season, while the CON condition maintained standard training protocols. Significant improvements were observed in the NEURO condition for the Stroop test (F = 51.57, p < 0.0001) and reactive 10-yard T shuttle run, both of which demand rapid cognitive processing under task complexity. Although performance metrics (attack percentage and service error percentage) showed favorable trends in the NEURO condition compared to the CON condition, statistical significance was not achieved. Neurocognitive and neuromuscular training produced measurable improvements in cognitive performance assessments, supporting their potential role in enhancing athlete readiness. While game performance and injury outcomes showed promising trends, further research is warranted to establish definitive effects on skill performance and injury prevention.
Recommended Citation
Albano, Matthew; Whitmer, Rebecca; Kobak, Mallory S.; and Rebold, Michael J.
(2026)
"Effects of Neurocognitive and Neuromuscular Exercises on Skill Performance and Injury Risk in Collegiate Volleyball Athletes,"
Journal for Sports Neuroscience: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 13.
Available at:
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/neurosports/vol2/iss1/13