Abstract
Studies have shown that visual skills can be subjected to exertion during exercise, thus implying that entrainment of vision is possible through interaction with the environment. It has been established that by simply participating in physical activity, one naturally improves visual awareness as well as visual processing skills and visual-motor integration. The purpose of the present study was to examine the changes in various visual skills during a 20-week military basic training programme. The training included cardio-respiratory endurance, fitness, muscular strength (upper body and abdominal), muscular endurance, speed, power, agility and flexibility. The participants (n=234) consisted of both male and female recruits who were enrolled for basic training at the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Only those recruits who complied with the inclusion criteria and were willing to give informed consent participated in the study. The data collection occurred before the onset of the basic training programme and again after 12 and 20 weeks of intensive training. This schedule was proposed in order to ensure the specific requirements demanded by the various tests, and to observe the rate at which the visual skills and physiological parameters changed. The improvement of various visual skills observed in this research provides evidence that physical exercise, along with an enhanced state of physical fitness, does have a positive effect on visual proficiency. These findings could be elucidated by an alteration in the neuronal architecture, which subsequently leads to faster decision making, as well as a quicker and more efficient motor response.
Highlights
Vision is a complex process which involves three basic steps: perception, integration, and response
The present study aims to examine the changes in various visual skills during a 20-week military basic military training (BMT) programme
Despite the fact that BMT aims to prepare conscripts both mentally and physically for the future tasks expected by them, the importance of simultaneous advancement of visual skills should not be overlooked
Summary
Vision is a complex process which involves three basic steps: perception, integration, and response. Doi:10.4172/ scientificreports.102 established that by participating in physical activity, one naturally improves his or her visual awareness as well as visual processing skills and visual-motor integration, implying that through sports vision training one can considerably improve performance and skill [15,16,17,18]. Studies revealing that athletes have better visual skills than the general public has increased interest in the role of sports vision in performance [3]. The athlete is able to attend to specific information, analyse, interpret and use this information more effectively than a non-athlete [21,22] This confirms results of previous studies which show that perception and action are functionally interdependent [23]. Intense physical training forms a fundamental part of the basic training programme
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