The effects of different exercise workloads on visual perception skills in elite serbian female judokas

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intense physical activity on visual perception skills in elite female judokas. The sample consisted of 18 female judokas, who were all members of the Serbian national team. They were divided into two groups according to their international ranking and/or results, Group A: more successful, Group B: less successful. Both groups scored similarly in visual perception skills on the Landolt test at the starting point. At a 60% workload, significantly higher scores in the visual perception efficacy were recorded for both groups. At 75% and 90% workloads, a significant decline in visual perception skills was detected in both groups. These findings suggest that the visual perception apparatus resources were activated at a 60% workload. The further increase of exercise workloads, however, caused progressive exhaustion of these resources in both groups. Even though a tendency for a greater decrement of visual perception skill was noticed in Group B than in Group A, the differences between the groups did not reach any statistical significance. On the other hand, the within-group changes in the Landolt test, occurring as a result of increased workloads were statistically significant for both groups (p=.01). Results obtained indicate that intense exercise affects visual perception accuracy, a finding that may help coaches and trainers when making tactical preparations for a judo bout, as well as in the selection of young female judokas.