Agility, or the ability to quickly and safely react to stimuli, is crucial to athleticism and overall functionality. Dr. Barry Seiller of the Visual Fitness Institute believes in a direct correlation between visual acuity and agile performance. Visual acuity encompasses hand-eye-body coordination and other related aspects of vision. Dynamic visual acuity refers to the ability to maintain a clear, precise view of an object in motion; identifying and catching a ball is an example. Contrast sensitivity implies an ability to discriminate shades of gray and black from shades of white, and an ability to see under different lighting conditions. Athletic teams, such as the US Ski team and baseball's Seattle Mariners, use visual-coordination exercises to improve performance.
Pencil Push-Ups
Eye doctors suggest the pencil push-up exercise for people with convergence insufficiency, a vision problem that impedes the ability to focus both eyes on a moving object. Hold a pencil at arm's length. Focus on the pencil's number as you move it toward your nose. When the number blurs, straighten your arm and begin again. Practice the exercise for one minute daily.
Dynamic Visual Acuity Exercise
Perform this exercise while walking or riding in a vehicle. Stabilize your head and try to read signs and license plates to the far left. Continue for five minutes, rest, then repeat, focusing to the right. Do not turn your head to either side.
Contrast Sensitivity
Turn on your television and tune to the scrolling preview channel. Open a newspaper and alternate between reading the text on the screen and the black-and-white newspaper text. Continue for three minutes.
Hand-Eye-Body Coordination
Stand on a balance board in an upright position. Ask your training partner to toss you a medicine ball. Perform a squat as you catch the ball. Extend your legs and toss the ball back to your partner.
