Comparing the reaction time and agility in alcohol and non alcohol consuming volleyball players

Abstract

Alcohol intake affects different stages of information processing such as reaction time, vigilance, cognition, motor co-ordination and agility. Sportsmen consume alcohol to improve psychological function, but it is psychomotor performance that deteriorates most. In sports involving rapid reactions to changing stimuli performance will be affected most adversely. There is little evidence on the effect of training with reaction ball on reaction time and plyometric training on agility. The present study assessed auditory -visual reaction time and agility in 20 volleyball players which were divided into 2 groups: the experimental and the control group. The experimental group (n=10) were alcohol consuming sportsmen and were given reaction time training and plyometric training for 4 weeks, 2 days/week for 30 minutes in each session. Whereas the control group (n=10) consisted of non alcoholic sportsmen and were not given any training. The results indicate that the non alcoholic group performed better in visual reaction time for red light (t=5.50, p≤0.001), green light (t=1.97, p=0.001), yellow light (t=19.63, p≤0.001) and auditory reaction time for high frequency(t=6.81, p≤0.001), low frequency (t=4.68, p≤0.001) as compared to the alcoholic experimental group post training. The non alcoholic group performed better in agility task (t=3.02, p≤0.001) post training as compared to the alcoholic experimental group.

Key words:

volleyball players, alcohol, reaction time, agility