An overview of important vision skills for Gymnastics

and how sports vision training can improve performance

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An overview of important vision skills for Gymnastics in Hixson

Sports Vision Training for Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a performance sport which requires extremely precise body control, and excellent precision, in order to carry out the impressive and complex routines that most people are familiar with. While there are many skills which are vital to a gymnast’s success, there are also a number of vision skills which, if improved, can help a gymnast reach those truly elite levels.

Sports vision training provides athletes with a competitive advantage by improving the specific visual skills they need for the position and sport they play.

Core Visual Skills

While there are a number of vision skills that are important for gymnasts, some are more crucial to performance than others.

Core vision skills for gymnasts include:

Eye-Hand-Foot-Body Coordination: The importance of proper coordination for gymnasts cannot be understated, as this sport, more than most others, relies on precise timing and body control. Improving this vision skill is vital for a high-level gymnast.
Depth Perception: In gymnastics, athletes often need to make precise landings, and make other complex movements over some distance after going airborne. For both increased performance and for overall safety, it’s vital that they have elite level depth perception.
Visual Memory: When performing, gymnasts often go through pre-prepared routines. Visual memory is a skill which enables a gymnast to better remember those details, in addition to remembering key details on the area where she’ll be performing, such as the distances involved.
Reaction Time: Gymnasts run through their routines very quickly, and there is little room for error. Improved reaction time will lead to better timing, and also increased ability to improvise if something does go wrong.

Secondary Visual Skills

Secondary visual skills for gymnasts aren’t necessarily any less important than core visual skills, though they are not quite as central to what is needed for a gymnast to be successful.

Binocularity: Binocularity is a vision skill which allows both eyes to work together precisely and with good coordination. This skill is important for spatial coordination, which is the ability to take in information about the locations of objects in three-dimensional environments. In gymnastics, this helps the gymnast better focus on and interact with equipment such as a bar or pommel horse, and, with the improved ability to focus both eyes together, precise landings will become easier as well.
Visualization: As with many other sports, the ability to mentally see yourself succeeding at executing an action, can greatly help a gymnast up her game. As strange as it might sound, seeing yourself in your mind’s eye successfully pulling off a new routine can actually make you more likely to succeed when you do it for real. Improving your ability to do that will pay dividends when it comes time to compete.

Elevate your level of play and edge out the competition with sports vision training!

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Dr. McBryar

Dr. McBryar runs a specialty optometry practice, Amplify EyeCare Chattanooga, located in Hixson, Tennessee. Dr. McBryar specializes in the fields of developmental optometry, working with children and special needs to realize their full potential.

She has many achievements in her field:

Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry (ABO)
Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD)
Candidate for Fellowship in the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)

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Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!