Training Effects of Visual Function on College Baseball Players

The purpose of this research study was to determine whether or not visual function of baseball players would be improved by specifi c training. A total Forty-four male baseball players (age: 20.7±1.4, athletic career: 11.0±2.5 years) voluntarily participated in this study. The sample subjects were divided into three groups : Experimental group I, Experimental group II, and Control group. Sample subjects in the experimental group I were assigned to be trained with using the Speesion (computer software program for improving and measuring visual function), while the subjects of the experimental group II practiced watching high speed pitched baseballs and identifying the color of stickers on a ball. All the subjects underwent a usual baseball practice six days a week. Both experimental groups conducted a training session three times a week for eight straight weeks on top of the usual practice. The following items were measured by ordinary device for all sample subjects, static visual acuity (SVA), dynamic visual acuity (DVA), and Kinetic Visual Acuity (KVA). In addition, the following items were examined by the Speesion, DVA, eye movement, visual fi eld, and moment perception. The measurements were conducted three times: at the prior to, after the 4th weeks, and at the end of the training sessions. No signifi cant change in DVA and KVA was found in either experimental group when the ordinary testing devices were employed. However, by using the Speesion tests, signifi cant improvements in some visual functions were found in both experimental groups. Therefore, the training methods utilized in this project improved the visual functions of the college male baseball players.