Training vision in athletes to improve sports performance: a systematic review of the literature
Abstract
ABSTRACT Sports vision training (SVT) refers to a training regimen designed to enhance visual skills that are essential for sports performance under the theory that such enhancement will lead to improved athletic performance. SVT regimens involve a variety of drills aimed at improving visual sensitivity, depth perception, tracking, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and cognition important for success in sports. A growing body of empirical research has sought to develop and test SVT programs in athletes including training activities implemented in controlled, simulated, and naturalistic settings. This pre-registered, systematic review seeks to identify, describe, and evaluate the empirical literature addressing SVT. 126 articles were identified that tested SVT in athlete populations from many different sports and at all levels of achievement. While most studies reported improvements in generic and sports-specific visual abilities, and many also reported benefits in sports performance, the strongest evidence of performance improvements came from studies utilizing naturalistic training approaches where training activities were conducted with sports-specific stimuli or tasks. Despite this, relatively few studies used rigorous methods such as randomization, placebo-control, and blinding and therefore, while there is promising preliminary evidence in support of SVT, future studies will require improved methods and larger samples to move the field forward.
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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