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Stroboscopic Visual Training: Current Applications and Future Directions for Athletes

kinesiology
sports-injury

Abstract

Visual processing forms the foundation of athletic performance, and deficits in perceptual–cognitive abilities often limit athletes from reaching their full potential. Stroboscopic visual training (SVT) has been shown to enhance visuomotor and cognitive performance in healthy athlete populations; however, existing studies vary considerably in terms of equipment, training protocols, participant groups, and outcome measures. This systematic review aims to examine the application of SVT as an intervention for athletes, thereby providing an evidence-based foundation for the development of robust and effective training protocols in competitive sports. A comprehensive search was conducted across the PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest databases for publications between 1950 and June 2025. Two independent reviewers screened all studies employing stroboscopic eyewear as a training tool for athletes. Thirty-two full-text articles were assessed, of which eighteen met the inclusion criteria. Reported outcomes of SVT include significant improvements in fundamental visuocognitive abilities such as reaction time, processing speed, and short-term memory. Importantly, emerging evidence suggests that these gains may transfer to sport-specific skill enhancements, including striking, shooting accuracy, and agility. Nevertheless, substantial heterogeneity was observed among studies, particularly regarding the lack of standardized SVT protocols, differences in training settings, intervention durations, and outcome measures, as well as limited reporting of adverse effects. Such variability complicates efforts to determine optimal training doses and sport-specific applications. This review highlights the potential benefits of SVT as a competitive tool in athletic performance enhancement while underscoring existing research gaps. To maximize the transfer of training effects for athletes, coaches, and researchers within this emerging field of sport science, future work is needed to establish standardized protocols and identify optimal training parameters.
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