pierre elmurr bappsc (orthoptics) doba mappsc (exersportssc) sports vision scientist
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An introduction to vision & sports performance. Pierre Elmurr BAppSc (Orthoptics) DOBA MAppSc (ExerSportsSc) Sports Vision Scientist NSW Institute of Sport, Australia. VISION TRAINING. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Pierre Elmurr BAppSc (Orthoptics) DOBA MAppSc (ExerSportsSc) Pierre Elmurr BAppSc (Orthoptics) DOBA MAppSc (ExerSportsSc) Sports Vision ScientistSports Vision ScientistNSW Institute of Sport, AustraliaNSW Institute of Sport, Australia
An introduction to vision & sports An introduction to vision & sports performance performance
VISION TRAININGVISION TRAINING
• "Vision training for sport is the application of "Vision training for sport is the application of specificspecific exercises conducted over a exercises conducted over a period period of timeof time that leads to that leads to neural restructuringneural restructuring of of cortex and brainstem pathways allowing a cortex and brainstem pathways allowing a person to maximise person to maximise efficiency efficiency while while performing performing visual perceptual tasksvisual perceptual tasks leading to leading to enhanced visual motor performanceenhanced visual motor performance””
Elmurr 2010 Boston sports vision meetingElmurr 2010 Boston sports vision meeting
Relationship of vision & skilled movement Relationship of vision & skilled movement (Welford 1960 model)(Welford 1960 model)
• Perceptual mechanism divided into Perceptual mechanism divided into the the “HARDWARE”“HARDWARE” & & “SOFTWARE”“SOFTWARE”
• Decision mechanismDecision mechanism
• Effector mechanismEffector mechanism
Perceptual Mechanism Perceptual Mechanism (Starkes & Deakin 1984)(Starkes & Deakin 1984)
• ““HARDWARE”HARDWARE” - the reception of visual - the reception of visual information; affected by the ocular information; affected by the ocular characteristics of the athletes visual systemcharacteristics of the athletes visual system
• ““SOFTWARE”SOFTWARE” - Perception of visual - Perception of visual information; influenced by strategies an information; influenced by strategies an athlete develops & includes information athlete develops & includes information processing, use of advanced cues, ball flight processing, use of advanced cues, ball flight cues, gaze behavior and the use of cues, gaze behavior and the use of anticipatory skills anticipatory skills
“Hardware examination”
• Identifies uncorrected refractive errors, contrast sensitivity and Binocular anomalies that could influence “software” decision making
• ? Hardware has limiting factors
Ciuffreda model – vision & sport
5 major categories:
• Resolving detail
• Estimating depth
• Tracking moving objects
• Visual motor integration
• Visual information processing
Vision & sport classification
4 major categories:
• Visual skills
• Brain skills
• Sports IQ skills
• Sports psychology skills
EYE SIGHTVisual acuity Eye
dominanceContrast Sensitivity
Depth Perception
OCULAR MOTOR SKILLSAccommodation
Binocular vision
Dynamic VA
Saccades
Pursuits stereopsis Vergence
VISUAL PERCEPTUAL
MOTOR
SKILLS
Eye hand coordination
Eye foot coordination
Peripheral vision
Visualisation
Visual memory
Visual perception
Visual processing
VISUAL SKILLS
BRAIN SKILLS
Anticipation
Attention
Decision making
Neuroplasticity
Pattern recognition
Peripheral awareness
proprioception
SPORT IQ SKILL
Decision training
Gaze control
Skill acquisition
Visual cues
Visual search
The zone Talent identification
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY SKILLSULTIMATE MENTAL ATHLETE
Consistency
Flow Killer instinct
Mental toughness
zone Emotional toughness
Mind strength
PSYCHOLOGICAL
STRATEGIES
Arousal Breathing concentration Motivation
confidence Humor Goal setting Meditation
Visualization relaxation Positive thinking
Rituals
Perseverance Faith Self talk
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY SKILLS
PSYCHOLOGICAL
OBSTACLES
Adversity Burn-out Choking Fatigue
Aggression Pressure Fear Anxiety
Intimidation Anger Pain Self Doubt
Slumps Addication Stress
Generalised vs Specific vision training programs
• Do generalised visual training programs for sport Do generalised visual training programs for sport really work? An experimental investigation really work? An experimental investigation Abernethy & Woods Journal of Sports Science Abernethy & Woods Journal of Sports Science 20002000
• Results found no evidence that visual training Results found no evidence that visual training programs led to improvements in either vision or programs led to improvements in either vision or motor performance above & beyond simple test motor performance above & beyond simple test familiarityfamiliarity
Specific sports vision training researchSpecific sports vision training research• The effects of a visual skills training program The effects of a visual skills training program
on female volleyball athletes, Kluka et al 1996on female volleyball athletes, Kluka et al 1996
• ““Hardware” component, statistically Hardware” component, statistically significant improvement in Contrast significant improvement in Contrast Sensitivity FunctionSensitivity Function
• ““Software”, statistically significant Software”, statistically significant improvement in speed of recognitionimprovement in speed of recognition
• Advantageous to create visual skills training Advantageous to create visual skills training programs which closely resemble the programs which closely resemble the volleyball specific environmentvolleyball specific environment
VISION TRAINING MODALITIES VISION TRAINING MODALITIES
• Classical vision training
• “Software” training
• Visual awareness training
• Visual-motor training
CLASSICAL VISION TRAINING CLASSICAL VISION TRAINING
• Based on deficiencies detected during the Based on deficiencies detected during the “hardware” testing of the visual system“hardware” testing of the visual system
• Orthoptic therapies are proven methods based Orthoptic therapies are proven methods based on scientific principles. Success rates vary on scientific principles. Success rates vary from 61.9% (Birnbaum et al 1999), to 91% from 61.9% (Birnbaum et al 1999), to 91% (Grisham 1988) to 100%(Wicks 1994) (Grisham 1988) to 100%(Wicks 1994)
CLASSICAL VISION TRAININGCLASSICAL VISION TRAINING
• A critical evaluation of the evidence supporting the practice of behavioural vision therapy. Barrett, Ophthal. Physiol. Opt. 2009
• “A large majority of behavioural management approaches are not evidence based and thus cannot be advocated”
Software
• Perceptual factors including visual Perceptual factors including visual search/gaze behavior, decision making, search/gaze behavior, decision making, anticipation, pattern recognition and anticipation, pattern recognition and attention has been shown to attention has been shown to discriminate between experts & novices discriminate between experts & novices (Abernethy, 1988, Abernethy et al., (Abernethy, 1988, Abernethy et al., 1994; Helsen & Starkes, 1999, 1994; Helsen & Starkes, 1999, McPherson & French, 1999; Starkes, McPherson & French, 1999; Starkes, 1987; Williams, 2000; Williams et al., 1987; Williams, 2000; Williams et al., 1999)1999)
““software” eye movements software” eye movements
• Gaze control Gaze control is defined as the process of is defined as the process of directing gaze to objects within a scene in real directing gaze to objects within a scene in real time. time.
• A A fixationfixation occurs when the gaze is held on an occurs when the gaze is held on an object or location within 3 degrees of the visual object or location within 3 degrees of the visual angle for 100 milliseconds or longer angle for 100 milliseconds or longer
What do athletes see?What do athletes see?
• How gaze is controlled in sport falls into 2 How gaze is controlled in sport falls into 2 methods of research:methods of research:
• Visual searchVisual search: the eye movements of : the eye movements of athletes are recorded as they view athletes are recorded as they view videotapes, photographs, computer videotapes, photographs, computer simulations, or other simulated content from simulations, or other simulated content from their sport their sport
• Vision-in-actionVision-in-action: Uses the gaze of the : Uses the gaze of the participant recorded while they perform in participant recorded while they perform in real world sport settingsreal world sport settings
Gaze ControlGaze Control• In gaze studies in sport, all gaze (In gaze studies in sport, all gaze (fixations, pursuit fixations, pursuit
tracking, saccades, blinkstracking, saccades, blinks) found in a task to a ) found in a task to a location, one gaze has emerged called the location, one gaze has emerged called the “quiet “quiet eye” eye” as a significant contributing factor to higher as a significant contributing factor to higher levels of sports performance (Vickers, 1996a). levels of sports performance (Vickers, 1996a).
• The Quiet eye is defined as a period of time when The Quiet eye is defined as a period of time when the fixation is stable on spatial information critical the fixation is stable on spatial information critical to effective and consistent motor performance. to effective and consistent motor performance.
Focal vision & Quiet eye
4 characteristics of quiet eye
• A directing of attention to a critical location in the performance environment
• An onset that occurs prior to the intended movement• A duration that is longer for elite performers than for
lesser skill level• A high level of stability
Visual awareness trainingVisual awareness training• 29 elite female hockey players were divided into 3 groups29 elite female hockey players were divided into 3 groupsGroup 1Group 1 training normally for 4 weeks training normally for 4 weeksGGroup 2roup 2 did visual skills training did visual skills training Group 3Group 3 received visual awareness coaching on top of visual received visual awareness coaching on top of visual
skills and normal trainingskills and normal training
• 22 specific field hockey skills were tested before and after the 22 specific field hockey skills were tested before and after the 4 weeks of training 4 weeks of training
Group 1Group 1, t, the control group improved in only 3 of the 22 testshe control group improved in only 3 of the 22 tests
GGroup roup 22 improved on 9 of the testsimproved on 9 of the tests Group 3Group 3 improved on 16 of the 22 skills tested. Visual awareness improved on 16 of the 22 skills tested. Visual awareness
program includedprogram included on field sports specific activities such as on field sports specific activities such as altering the position of the head inaltering the position of the head in r relation to the dominant eye elation to the dominant eye and the ball and the ball
Visual-motor trainingVisual-motor training
• Combining hardware & software Combining hardware & software processing produces a motor responseprocessing produces a motor response
• Eye-hand coordinationEye-hand coordination• Eye-foot coordinationEye-foot coordination• Coincidence anticipationCoincidence anticipation• Peripheral awareness reaction timePeripheral awareness reaction time
Motor skill • Defined as skills in which physical movement is
required to accomplish a goal of a task. • Classified into 3 groups
• 1. Precision of the movement: • Gross (walking, jumping) vs fine motor skill (writing,
drawing)• 2. Defining beginning & end point of a skill : • Discrete (hitting a button on a keyboard vs
continuous motor skill (swimming, running)• 3. Stability of the environment : • Closed (bowling) vs open motor skill (tennis rally)
Motor performance measuresMotor performance measures• Response output: Measures time, error and Response output: Measures time, error and
magnitude of a responsemagnitude of a response
• Response production: Measures include EMG, Response production: Measures include EMG, EEG measures describing limbs, joints, muscles & EEG measures describing limbs, joints, muscles & brain activity during movementbrain activity during movement
• The most common measure of initiation of The most common measure of initiation of movement is movement is reaction time reaction time
• Response Time is the total time interval involving Response Time is the total time interval involving both Reaction time & movement timeboth Reaction time & movement time
Motor performance measuresMotor performance measures
• 3 common types of RT:3 common types of RT:• Simple RTSimple RT: Only one signal and one response : Only one signal and one response
required (visual stimuli 180-200ms, auditory 140-160 required (visual stimuli 180-200ms, auditory 140-160 ms) ms)
• Go/No- RTGo/No- RT: Respond to one stimuli and not respond to : Respond to one stimuli and not respond to another stimulianother stimuli
• Choice RTChoice RT: A distinct response for each possible : A distinct response for each possible stimuli stimuli
Learning
• Perceptual learning – ability to improve on a specific sensory/perceptual task with practice
• Motor learning – process that improves motor performance through practice
• Other forms of learning – visualization, anticipation, visual attention, range of cognitive strategies
Motor learning• Motor learning – the changes associated with
practice or experience leading to improvements in motor performance (observable production of a motor skill)
• SVT is the motor learning tool and improvements in motor performance is a decrease in reaction time on the SVT board and on field improvements in hand speed
• Level of motor performance is susceptible to fluctuations in temporary factors such as motivation, arousal, fatigue
Motor learning• Improved motor performance due to increasing
synaptic efficiency in the neural-network
• Motor learning involves 3 stages:
• Determining by trial & error processing the optimal motor program to accomplish a particular task
• Repeated practicing of the optimal motor program for rapid & precise execution
• Attaining a level of automaticity, the movement becomes “pre programmed” allowing attention to be allocated to other related tasks. “consistent stimulus response mapping”
SVT SVT TM TM independent research, 2001independent research, 2001
• Statistical established internal validity and test-retest Statistical established internal validity and test-retest reliabilityreliability
• Training eye hand coordination 3 times a week (Training eye hand coordination 3 times a week (½½ hr hr sessions ) for 5 weeks on the SVT sessions ) for 5 weeks on the SVT TMTM does improve eye does improve eye hand coordination as measured on the SVT hand coordination as measured on the SVT TMTM
• The skills learnt from training on the SVT The skills learnt from training on the SVT TMTM are are transferable to a control devicetransferable to a control device
VISION TRAININGVISION TRAINING
• Higher the skill level of the athlete the more specific Higher the skill level of the athlete the more specific the trainingthe training
• Higher the skill level requires quantitative analysis Higher the skill level requires quantitative analysis and latest technology to measure performance and latest technology to measure performance changes changes
• Effective training minimum 2 or 3 times a week for 5 Effective training minimum 2 or 3 times a week for 5 weeks (1/2 sessions). Skills maintained for up to 10 weeks (1/2 sessions). Skills maintained for up to 10 weeks after cessation of trainingweeks after cessation of training
SUMMARY/TIPS
• Conduct “hardware” assessment and relate results to on field performance
• Treat “hardware” deficiencies
• ?? Warm up exercises/visual perceptual computer generated vision training programs
• Design specific visual motor drills (on field vs off field)
• Work closely with sports scientist/coaches to assess/train “software” parameters related to a specific sport
THANK YOU!THANK YOU!
[email protected]@sportsvision.com.au