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Vision's Role In Strength Training
The Crucial Role of Vision in Training and Strength Building
When we think about physical training and strength building, our focus often lands squarely on muscles, technique, and endurance. However, there's a vital yet often overlooked player in this arena: our vision.
It wasn’t until I was challenged in a strength training sessions did I fully accept the power of how my strength can be enhanced by vision drills.
Test: Get into your workout for push and then perform an assessment (see video attached), perform pencil pushups, reassess to make sure you had a good response, and then do the next set.
How do you feel? Stronger, fresher?
This was the moment I finally understood that if our eyes are the epicenter for our brain to perceive threat to our bodies, then if I could use applied neurology drills to decrease threat, it opened up a bunch of energy channels (aka strength) that allowed me to increase reps, weight, time under tensions etc.
This very simple skill set showed me how our vision plays a profound role in how we move, react, and perform in athletic pursuits.
Not only athletically, but even to the general population. The application of decreasing stress is universal.
Here is what you'll learn below:
The Dominance Of Vision To Our Brains and Body
- Introduction to the importance of vision in strength training
- Personal anecdote about discovering the power of vision drills
Vision as a Brain Function
- Vision's role in the neural hierarchy
- Comparison to GPS system for spatial awareness
- Integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems
- Primacy of vision in threat detection and response
Processing Power of Vision
- Visual system's data transmission rate compared to other senses
- Impact of impaired visual processing on movement and threat assessment
- Energy consumption by the brain due to visual challenges
Integrative Role of Vision And Strength Training
- Vision's activation of major brain areas
- Training focus on binocular vision, eye movements, and visual processing pathways
Here’s How Enhancing Vision Can Specifically Enhance Strength:
Enhanced Motor Coordination and Technique
- Vision's role in improving motor coordination
- Impact on exercise technique and efficiency
Faster Reaction Times and Dynamic Performance
- Visual training's effect on reaction times
- Benefits for dynamic and explosive movements
Psychological and Performance Benefits
- Vision's influence on confidence and focus
- Overall performance enhancement through visual training
The Dominance Of Vision To Our Brains and Body
Vision is the most dominant sense when it comes to processing information in the brain. This is why vision training, and learning applied neurology drills have such an impact on strength training.
1. Data Transmission Rate:
- The visual system transmits data at an extraordinarily high rate compared to other senses.
**VISION can process up to 10 million bits of information per second. This rate surpasses the capacity of the auditory system, which handles around 100,000 bits per second, and the somatosensory system (touch), which processes information at a similar rate to the auditory system.
2. Brain Energy Consumption
(**THIS IS A HUGE FACTOR WHEN YOU LEARN HOW THE BRAIN FEEDS and what happens to our pre-frontal cortex with lack of energy):
- The visual system demands significant energy from the brain. A substantial portion of the brain's resources is devoted to processing visual information.
This high energy consumption underscores the importance of vision in overall sensory processing and its priority in the brain's hierarchy of functions.
3. Neural Hierarchy and Integration:
- Vision is not only dominant in terms of the sheer volume of data processed but also in its integrative role. It combines inputs from the visual, vestibular (balance), and proprioceptive (body position) systems to create a coherent perception of the environment.
This integrative function is akin to a GPS system, providing spatial awareness and aiding in the detection and response to threats.
4. Vision & Activation of Major Brain Areas:
- Visual stimuli activate major brain areas more extensively than other sensory inputs. This widespread activation includes areas responsible for movement coordination, spatial awareness, and even cognitive functions such as memory and decision-making.
Training that focuses on visual efficiency, including binocular vision and eye movement exercises, can thus enhance overall brain function and performance.
So as you can see vision training is a powerful tool for making people feel better. It’s incredible how little the visual system is looked at when it comes to dealing with pain, anxiety, or sensory overwhelm.
This next generation of health professionals will now start to incorporate applied neurology into their training sessions. If you want to see how we do that in training sessions, click here to see it.
As health coaches, trainers, and therapists, it’s our responsibility to use the best information we can to give our clients the best possible outcomes.
The sheer amount of sensory information coming in through the eyes is enough to make it a priority in assessing threats to the human body.
No longer is this information hidden. It is time for the collective of all training practices to really understand what your sensory systems do to our health.
Here is how you can start incorporating vision training into your sessions:
1. Reduce Sensory Overload: If your clients experience overwhelm, anxiety, or fatigue, turn down the input with colored glasses, pinhole glasses, or even just a hat. This can often go a long way to mitigate sensory overload. 🕶️🎩
2. Test and Train Eye Movements: Incorporate eye movement or fixation training into activities you’re already doing. The big idea is that the eyes must move in all possible ways, just like the joints! 🔄👁️
Vision as a Brain Function
Vision is not just about seeing; it's a cornerstone of our brain's intricate neural hierarchy. Just like a GPS system guides navigation, our vision provides essential cues for spatial awareness during physical activities. The integration of visual input with our vestibular (balance) and proprioceptive (body position) senses forms the foundation of our movement and coordination.
In terms of evolutionary biology, vision holds primacy in detecting and responding to threats, a crucial survival advantage ingrained in our neural wiring.
Processing Power of Vision
The speed and efficiency with which our visual system processes information are staggering. Compared to other senses, the visual system transmits data at a remarkably high rate, influencing how quickly we can react to changes in our environment.
Impaired visual processing, whether due to poor eyesight or other factors, can severely hamper our ability to assess threats accurately and execute precise movements.
The brain expends significant energy to compensate for visual challenges, underscoring the critical link between clear vision and optimal physical performance.
Integrative Role of Vision
In the realm of physical training, optimizing vision isn't just about eye health—it's about enhancing overall brain function. Visual stimuli activate major brain areas responsible for motor control, decision-making, and spatial awareness.
Training methodologies that emphasize binocular vision, eye movements, and visual processing pathways can significantly enhance athletic performance.
Athletes who train their visual acuity alongside their physical skills often demonstrate better coordination, faster reaction times, and improved overall athletic prowess.
Understanding the importance of visual efficiency in training goes beyond clearer eyesight; it's about maximizing our brain's ability to interpret and respond to the world around us.
By prioritizing visual training alongside physical conditioning, athletes can unlock their full potential, enhancing both performance and safety. Whether you're sprinting down a track, lifting weights in a gym, or navigating complex terrain, sharpening your vision could be the key to reaching new heights in your athletic journey.
Here’s how enhancing vision can specifically enhance strength:
Enhanced Motor Coordination and Technique
1. Precision in Movement:
Improved visual acuity allows athletes to more accurately gauge their surroundings, enhancing precision in movement execution. Whether it's lifting weights, performing complex movements, or maintaining balance during exercises like squats or deadlifts, clearer vision helps in aligning body mechanics effectively.
This precision reduces the risk of injury and optimizes muscle engagement, thereby enhancing strength gains over time.
2. Better Muscle Activation:
Visual cues play a crucial role in activating specific muscle groups during exercises. Enhanced visual processing enables athletes to focus more efficiently on target muscles, improving muscle recruitment and activation patterns. This targeted activation contributes to stronger contractions and better overall strength development.
Faster Reaction Times and Dynamic Performance
3. Quick Response to External Stimuli:
Clear vision facilitates quicker reaction times to external stimuli, such as changes in weight positioning, opponent movements in competitive sports, or unexpected obstacles during training.
Rapid visual processing allows athletes to adjust their movements swiftly, maintaining stability and maximizing force output in dynamic strength exercises like cleans, snatches, or explosive jumps.
4. Improved Balance and Stability:
Visual feedback is essential for maintaining balance and stability, especially in exercises requiring precise weight distribution and coordination.
By enhancing visual perception, athletes can better control their center of gravity, reducing energy wastage and optimizing muscle efficiency during strength-building activities.
Psychological and Performance Benefits
5. Confidence and Focus: Enhanced visual clarity instills greater confidence in athletes, promoting focused concentration on performance goals. Visual training techniques, such as visualization and eye-hand coordination drills, enhance mental preparedness and concentration during strength training sessions.
This mental focus translates into more deliberate and effective muscle contractions, contributing to increased strength gains.
6. Reduced Fatigue and Improved Endurance:
Efficient visual processing conserves cognitive energy, reducing mental fatigue during prolonged training sessions. Athletes with enhanced visual acuity can sustain high-intensity efforts for longer durations, improving overall endurance and resilience in strength-based workouts.
By improving visual acuity and processing through targeted training methods, athletes can enhance their strength training outcomes significantly.
Clearer vision enhances motor coordination, optimizes muscle activation, facilitates faster reactions, and boosts overall performance confidence. Integrating visual enhancement strategies into training regimens not only enhances physical strength but also promotes safer and more efficient workouts. Thus, enhancing vision is a strategic approach to unlocking greater strength potential and achieving peak athletic performance.
More articles to enhance your education:
Why Vision Matters in Neuro Training
The Top 4 Ways Your Vision Improves Your Health
6 Reasons For Adding Vision Training to Your Training Routine
How Do I Know Which Area of the Brain to Train?
How Brain Training Enhances Athletic Performance
Integrating Neuro into Your Practice
