The Effect of Visual Blurring and Occlusion on Competitive Performance in 400-Meter Sprint Runners

Abstract

Visual acuity constitutes a critical factor that directly impacts competitive performance in track and field athletics, particularly in running events. This scientific study aimed to analyze the effect of visual impairment and complete visual deprivation (using monocular eye patches) on athletic performance among 400-meter runners in Syria. The research sample comprised six national team runners (3 males, 3 females) aged 19-26 years, carefully selected to represent the target demographic. Experimental procedures were conducted at premier sports facilities in Latakia Governorate (the Sports City and Municipal Stadium) employing rigorous experimental methodology.

Through advanced statistical analyses (Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test), the findings revealed that complete visual deprivation (using opaque patches) exerted significantly more detrimental effects on performance compared to partial visual impairment (using translucent patches). Furthermore, the study demonstrated that systematic training with monocular eye patches effectively mitigates the negative impacts in both conditions, thereby introducing novel applications for this technique in athletic performance enhancement.