Introduction

Eyes and training: What role do they play in training?

Your eyes influence your training and your mobility. You can find out exactly how in this article.

Did you know that your eyes send the most information to your brain of all parts of your body? They account for around 65% of the data processed in the brain.

Strictly speaking, our eyes are actually part of the brain, namely an outgrowth of the diencephalon. They therefore influence your movement and mobility.

Why eye exercises should be part of everyday life

We perceive an area of 180° in the horizontal direction and around 100° in the vertical direction via the field of vision. These are the dimensions of a healthy person. Depending on physical conditions, this can be significantly restricted. The reason for this can be deficits in the eyes, the optic nerve or other reasons.

Optical stimuli are detected and then analyzed in the individual visual field. The processing of the information received by the eye begins in the retina. This continues in different areas of the brain. The eyes therefore only take in the information, the actual vision takes place in parallel processes in the brain.

Eyes and training: mechanisms of vision

Various mechanisms play a decisive role here:

• Ideal alignment of the eyes
• Prevention of inappropriate eye movements
• Select and focus on an object
• Fade out unwanted visual signals

The information is processed simultaneously in two paths:

• Where-pathdecisive for visual spatial perception
• What path: decisive for object features such as shape or color up to individual object and face recognition

All of this happens unconsciously and automatically.

Eyes and training: functions of our vision

• Detection of object or self-motion
• Image segmentation
• Deep vision
• Generation of motor performance

As with almost all tasks, we improve through practice and learning. This also applies to visual skills. Feedback signals and directed attention have a significant influence here.

The information from our eyes has a direct influence on our posture and movement patterns via various reflexes.

If you move your eyes upwards, the stretching muscles are activated. If you move your eyes downwards, you activate the flexor muscles. As you can see, the eyes have an immense influence on the body and movement. It is therefore worth including them in your training.

At AIMO, we therefore always include exercises for the eyes in our balancing training and neuro-prep program. Because eyes and training simply belong together. Eye exercises are crucial for your mobility and well-being.

Example of eye training

Eye support

How can you combine eyes and training in everyday life? Of course, we have also thought about this in the AIMO app and always include eye exercises.

Purpose of the exercise and to be observed:

This exercise trains your eye muscles and the adaptation to near and far vision. It specifically trains 2 eye muscles that have a direct influence on your neck muscles and your perception of pain.

• Perform the exercise slowly and in a controlled manner.
• Make sure that you see a clear picture the whole time.
• If you feel dizzy, stop the exercise immediately.

Implementation:

• Stretch out your arm and thumb.
• Fix your eyes on your thumb.
• Move your thumb to your nose until you can still see the point clearly.
• Then stretch your arm out again.
• The eyes fixate on the thumb the whole time.
• Bring your thumb back to your nose and stretch your arm out again.

Tip:

• If you find the exercise too difficult or uncomfortable, close your eyes as you bring your thumb up to your nose and only open them again when you have stretched your arm out again.
• To make the exercise more intense, you can increase the speed. 

Why not try it out straight away!