Background In sports, visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance are critical components of athletic success. Stroboscopic glasses, which intermittently block vision, have been introduced as a tool to potentially improve these abilities by increasing cognitive and perceptual load during training. However, there is limited and inconsistent evidence regarding their effectiveness across different sports. Aims This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of stroboscopic glasses on visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance in athletes from various sports disciplines. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in the Science Direct, Web of Science, and PubMed databases up to March 2025. The analysis included controlled clinical trials without random allocation involving athletes from sports such as soccer, basketball, badminton, and ice hockey. The primary outcomes assessed were visuomotor reaction and overall sport-specific performance. Study quality was evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies, while the risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager software. Results Out of 6559 identified studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was rated as moderate, and blinding was considered weak. A meta-analysis of six studies indicated a statistically significant improvement in visuomotor reaction (Z = 3.00, p = 0.003, effect size = − 0.76). A separate meta-analysis of three studies suggested a significant improvement in sport-specific performance (Z = 2.17, p = 0.03, effect size = 0.73). However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the non-randomized design of the included studies and the limited number of studies in some analyses. Conclusions Stroboscopic training provides preliminary and suggestive evidence of beneficial effects on visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance in athletes. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations and a limited evidence base. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and to establish optimal training protocols across different sports.

The effects of stroboscopic glasses on visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance in athletes: a meta-analysis

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年5月23日

查看全文

Oğuzhan Bahadir Demir,
Aylin Bilgin

摘要

Background

In sports, visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance are critical components of athletic success. Stroboscopic glasses, which intermittently block vision, have been introduced as a tool to potentially improve these abilities by increasing cognitive and perceptual load during training. However, there is limited and inconsistent evidence regarding their effectiveness across different sports.

Aims

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of stroboscopic glasses on visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance in athletes from various sports disciplines.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in the Science Direct, Web of Science, and PubMed databases up to March 2025. The analysis included controlled clinical trials without random allocation involving athletes from sports such as soccer, basketball, badminton, and ice hockey. The primary outcomes assessed were visuomotor reaction and overall sport-specific performance. Study quality was evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies, while the risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager software.

Results

Out of 6559 identified studies, 12 met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was rated as moderate, and blinding was considered weak. A meta-analysis of six studies indicated a statistically significant improvement in visuomotor reaction (Z = 3.00, p = 0.003, effect size = − 0.76). A separate meta-analysis of three studies suggested a significant improvement in sport-specific performance (Z = 2.17, p = 0.03, effect size = 0.73). However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the non-randomized design of the included studies and the limited number of studies in some analyses.

Conclusions

Stroboscopic training provides preliminary and suggestive evidence of beneficial effects on visuomotor reaction and sport-specific performance in athletes. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations and a limited evidence base. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and to establish optimal training protocols across different sports.