Effects of Vision Training on Sportive Performance in Professional Wrestlers

This study examines the effects of vision training on the sportive performance of professional wrestlers. In wrestling, rapid decision making, timely opponent detection and effective execution of strategic moves are highly dependent on visual perception skills. In this context, our study investigated how vision training improves wrestlers' sportive performance and neck proprioception.

Before the study, ethical approval was obtained from Marmara University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee with the number 09.2022.1084. The study was started with 28 athletes from the Turkish Greco-Roman A National Team and was carried out on 27 athletes after one athlete in the control group was injured. The athletes who were examined by an ophthalmologist before the study, who did not have any visual problems and who did not have a history of surgical operation and / or injury that would adversely affect the balance in the last 6 months were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 14-member vision training group was subjected to a vision training program that included eye exercises accompanied by a physiotherapist for 5 sessions per week in addition to their routine training for 8 weeks, while the control group continued their routine training. Performance measurements were performed in both groups at the beginning of the study, in the middle of the training (week 4.), at the end of the training (week 8.) and 4 weeks after the training (week12.). Performance evaluations; Wrestling Specific Shuttle Run, Squat-Bench Press Maximum Strength, The Mc-Gill Endurance (Flexion, Extension and Lateral Plank Endurance Tests), Pro-agility Agility, Stork Static Balance, Star Dynamic Balance (Anterior, Posterolateral and Posteromedial directions) and Neck Proprioception tests (cervical region flexion, extension, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion, right rotation and left rotation). The measurement results were statistically evaluated both within and between groups. The effect of the training program on the visual training and control groups was compared in a time-dependent manner. The effect x time interaction was evaluated by ANOVA analysis.