The Effect of Acutely Applied Exercise Bars on Proprioception, Reaction Time, Power and Upper Extremity Performance

This study will be conducted between May and August 2026 at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Health Sciences, with male individuals aged 18-35. For the study, cases will first be divided into 3 groups by computer-assisted randomization.The first group will be the Flex-i bar group, the second group will be the Theraband Flex bar group, and the third group will be the Sham bar group. Group 1 will perform the exercises with the Flex-i bar, while Group 2 will perform them with the Theraband Flex bar. The control group will perform the exercises with a rolling pin.After group assignment of cases is completed, demographic information such as age, height and weight of the participants will be recorded. Then, pre-exercise assessments of the participants will be conducted. The assessment will include proprioception, reaction time, power and upper extremity performance. Following the initial assessment, each group will perform their exercises with their own exercise material. Measurements will be repeated after the exercises. Measurements will be taken three times during the assessments and the best result will be recorded.

Proprioception Measurement (Joint Position Sense): Before starting the test, the content of the test will be explained in detail and a trial will be conducted. For the test, the participant will first be asked to sit in a chair with back support. Then their eyes will be covered with an eye mask. A digital inclinometer will be placed on their wrist with Velcro (Baseline 12-1057 digital inclinometer). The researcher will show the participant the desired degree of movement, and the participant will be asked to do this themselves. Then the test phase will begin, and the individual will be asked to actively reach the target angle. The amount of deviation of the angle reached by the individual will be recorded. This process will be repeated 3 times, and the best value will be used as the analysis value.

Measurement of Reaction Time: The time it takes for a person to give a motor response (e.g., pressing a button, reaching for a light) upon perceiving a visual stimulus will be measured in milliseconds (ms). Simple reaction time tests are performed using complex technical equipment such as infrared lasers, step panels, and motion-based approach models. Portable, wireless light devices such as Blazepod, FitLight Trainer, and Reflexlight are among the current equipment used for reaction time. In this study, the Blazepod reaction time meter will be used. The participant will touch the button on one of four illuminated devices placed on a table, according to the visual stimulus, and turn off the light. The duration of the person pressing the button will be automatically detected by the device and the duration will be recorded.

Upper Extremity Performance Measurement: The Upper Quarter Y Balance Test will be used for performance measurement.

The person assumes a plank position (hands on the ground, feet behind). The supporting arm remains stationary, and the arm being tested is extended in 3 different directions: Medial (inward), superolateral (opposite), and inferolateral (outer diagonal backward).