Have you ever tried and failed to catch a falling object because you were unable to quickly reach it? The answer to that question will probably be yes. This is because your reaction time wasn’t quick enough. Having a quick reaction time has important life applications like helping you avoid an accident while driving.
If you have slow reaction time, the good news is that there are activities and lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve your reaction times. One way of enhancing your reaction time is by using the blazepod reaction light training system. In this article, we will explore some reasons for having a good response time and how sports trainers and coaches can help their teams get better reaction times.
Why Do We Need Quick Reaction Times?
Before you know why you need to have quick reaction time, you have to know exactly what it is. Your reaction time is the amount of time it takes you to respond to an external stimulus.
Whenever any stimulus comes your way, your senses become active and send impulses to your brain. Your brain is the processing unit that takes this information and decides what to do with it. Your brain then sends this signal via the nervous system to the body telling it what to do (your reaction). This seemingly complex or simple process depending on how you want to see it takes place in milliseconds. The time for this entire process to take place is your reaction time.
Reaction time shouldn’t be confused with reflexes. Reflexes are involuntary responses to stimuli and are faster than reaction times because the information doesn’t go through the brain. More so, reflexes usually occur in response to dangerous situations. An example of a reflex action will be quickly removing your hand from the fire or blinking when dust particles try to get into your eyes.
Benefits of Having Quick Reaction
Reaction time is a completely conscious response to stimuli, and it can be improved by deliberate action. Some benefits of having quick reaction times include:
Sports Performance
Improving your reaction time helps you get better at sporting activities. Whether it’s evading opponents in basketball, defending against punches in boxing, or moving quickest at the sound of the gun in a sprint, having an enhanced reaction time can give players and teams a competitive advantage.
Safety
Having a quick reaction time can protect you from the dangers of daily living. If you’re driving and another vehicle suddenly appears in front of you, a quick reaction time can be the difference between having a bad crash and getting away safely. Having a quick reaction time can also allow you to cushion yourself when you fall or are involved in a domestic accident.
Factors That Can Affect Reaction Times
Your reaction time can be affected by some of these factors:
Type of Stimulus
A complex stimulus will mean that the brain has more stimulus to the process leading to a longer response. You’re likelier to react faster to a falling kitchen utensil than a home burglary attempt.
Familiarity to Stimulus
If you’re responding to a known stimulus, chances are your reaction time will be shorter than that of a stimulus you weren’t expecting. It’d be easier to catch a coin you threw in the air than to swerve from an oncoming vehicle.
Biological Factors
Age, fatigue, illness, and even a bad diet can significantly slow down reaction time.
How Does Reaction Light Training Work?
Reaction light training is a smart flash training system employed by trainers and coaches to improve team performance. This training involves the use of light system equipment. The system makes you tap electronic pressure-sensitive cones with your hands, feet, knees, or sporting equipment like a racquet. Then the cones light up in several colors which serve as visual cues during a training session.
The idea behind this technology is to expose the brain to visual and auditory stimulants, and get the user to respond as fast as possible. These cues create new neural pathways through which the brain can send messages to the rest of the body. Soon enough, it becomes easier for the brain to send signals via the most active neural pathways. The resultant effect of this process is significantly improved reaction times.
Reaction light training cones can be used by trainers in basketball, soccer, and other sports to improve reaction times, balance, coordination, strength, or simply to have fun during a workout session. Reaction light training cones usually come with companion apps that can tailor training sessions to individual needs.
The companion apps usually allow users to devise custom training routines and engage in group exercises. Teams can also record and keep track of their progress with reaction light training apps.
Other Ways to Improve Reaction Time
Besides reaction light training, other things can be done to improve reaction times.
Eat Right
There’s a reason teams are strict on diet. There are studies that tyrosine-containing, vitamin-rich foods like spinach, broccoli, and eggs can improve brain function. Drinking plenty of water also helps. Dehydration shrinks the brain and can shave precious milliseconds of reaction time. What you eat every day affects your ability to concentrate and react, so keeping a balanced diet supplemented with vox nutrition products is also extremely important.
Avoid Stress
Stressful situations can negatively affect our ability to react to situations. Engaging in yoga and other meditative practices can give a boost to one’s ability to react.
Get Adequate Sleep
Sleep deprivation can adversely affect reaction times. Like every other powerful machine, the brain needs time to rest after a long working day. Getting up to eight hours of sleep can remarkably improve reaction time.
Practice a Specific Movement
Find out what exactly you want to improve your response time for and practice till you see improvements. This is one of the reasons elite players perform the same action over and over. Reaction drills make your brain and body comfortable with responding to a situation.
Conclusion
Reaction light training improves reaction time by strengthening the neural connections in the brain. Coaches and trainers can give their teams that competitive edge by working to improve reaction times.
Reaction light training systems provide an effective and fun way for sports trainers and teams to get the best out of each training session.
