The Impact of Peripheral Vision on Manual Reaction Time Using Fitlight Technology for Handball, Basketball and Volleyball Players

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to identify the impact of peripheral (unilateral and bilateral) vision on manual reaction time to visual stimuli in handball, basketball and volleyball players by implementing a 6-week experimental program of specific exercises and some adapted tests using Fitlight technology. The research included 412 players (212 male—51.5%; 200 female—48.5%) from three team sports: basketball—146 (35.4%), handball—140 (40%) and volleyball—126 (30.6%). The experimental program carried out over 6 weeks was identical for all handball, basketball and volleyball players participating in the study; two training sessions per week were performed, with each session lasting 30 min; 15 exercises were used for the improvement of manual reaction time to visual stimuli involving peripheral vision. Through the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), we identified statistically significant differences between the arithmetic means of the samples of handball, basketball and volleyball players, as well as according to general samples also of gender (male and female), p = 0.000. Male and female handball samples achieved the greatest progress in manual reaction time to visual stimuli involving peripheral vision for the Reaction time test with a unilateral right visual stimulus (30 s) and the Reaction time test with a unilateral left visual stimulus (30 s), while general sample also of male and female basketball samples, for the Reaction time test with bilateral visual stimuli (30 s) and the Reaction time test with six Fitlights (1 min); male and female volleyball samples recorded the lowest progress in all tests compared to handball and basketball groups. According to our results, female samples made greater progress in reaction time than male groups for all four tests of the present study. The implemented experimental program led to an improvement in manual reaction time to visual stimuli due to the use of Fitlight technology and the involvement of peripheral vision for all research samples.

The Use of Modern Measuring Devices in the Evaluation of Movement in the Block in Volleyball Depending on the Difficulty of the Task Determined by Light Signals

“…As in the present study, one of the most commonly used devices to assess players' motor skills and cognitive processes is the FITLIGHT Trainer TM [33][34][35][36][37][38]. The device finds its application both as a measurement tool and as a tool used in training to monitor the development of athletes in terms of specific motor parameters.…”

“…The device finds its application both as a measurement tool and as a tool used in training to monitor the development of athletes in terms of specific motor parameters. Using the FITLIGHT Trainer TM , studies have shown a beneficial effect of peripheral vision training in basketball, volleyball, and handball players in improving the time of manual reaction to visual stimuli [33]. Reaction speeds, agility, and dribbling skills were significantly improved in a group of youth basketball players after FITLIGHT reactive agility training [34].…”

The Importance of Basketball for High School Students. Part 2 (Utility Dimension Analysis)

“…For basketball players, reaction speed and peripheral vision play a major role in-game actions. For both genders, better values and progress are found in reaction times for bilateral visual stimuli (30 s), compared to similar handball and volleyball groups (Badau et al, 2023). Our results on the influenc of basketball on speed indicate a positive rating for almost 60% of those surveyed, with only 15% indicating the opposite.…”