An overview of important vision skills for Motocross

and how sports vision training can improve performance

Motocross

Motocross is a sport which takes place at high speed, and requires the ability to effectively track everything taking place during the race, and the ability to react quickly to developments ranging from an upcoming turn to another rider ahead. Improving these skills can provide the edge a competitor needs to truly succeed.

Core Visual Skills

Elite racers rely on elite visual performance that extends far beyond 20/20 vision. While there are a number of vision skills that are important for motocross riders, some are more crucial to performance than others.

Core vision skills for motocross riders include:

Eye-Hand-Foot Coordination: As with other sports which take place at high speeds, motocross requires the ability to react extremely quickly to visual input. A racer needs to be able to steer the wheel accurately and timely as well as braking or stepping on the gas with precision. Enhanced eye-hand-foot coordination is a key visual skill that is needed both in order to win and to avoid potentially dangerous crashes.
Peripheral Awareness: Especially while moving at high speeds, it is very important to be aware of where other riders around you are. Improving peripheral awareness can pay off greatly both when it comes to a rider being able to better position himself based on the movements of others, and to avoid potentially dangerous collisions.
Dynamic Visual Acuity: Dynamic visual acuity enables one to effectively and quickly see, interpret, and react to a fast moving object, while also being in motion. As with several other vision skills for motocross riders, improving this provides enhanced ability to track other riders as they move around at high speeds while the rider is himself moving.
Visual Reaction Time: This is another skill which helps a rider react quickly to new visual input, and can also significantly improve performance in high-pressure races.

Secondary Visual Skills

Secondary visual skills for motocross riders aren’t necessarily any less important than core visual skills, though they are not quite as central to what is needed for a racer to be successful.

Secondary visual skills for motocross riders include:

Vision-Balance Integration: This is the skill which helps utilize the visual system to assist with balance. While it may not be obvious to some, there is a degree of balance required for motocross riders as they make sharp turns during a race, and improving this skill makes a rider able to more easily do so, with more confidence.
Depth Perception and Distance Estimation: Being able to accurately judge distances while in the midst of a race can be extremely useful for a rider, enabling him to better judge how he can catch up to and pass other riders, all while he himself is moving at high speed.

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Dr. Wernick

Dr. Nathaniel (Nat) Wernick, FCOVD, graduated from the Northeastern State University College of Optometry and was selected for Residency training at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry. As a Resident Optometrist, he specialized in Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Traumatic Brain Injury. He has advanced training in developmental optometry and is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD).

Patients visiting Dr. Wernick will receive an in depth examination that extends beyond a comprehensive eye examination with a detailed look at ocular health, vision, contact lens fitting, prescription for eyewear, as well as developmental vision to screen for teaming skills, binocular vision, and visual processing. Dr. Wernick provides full-scope care to patients of all ages including diagnosis and treatment of conditions including red eyes, eye allergies, diabetic and hypertensive eye checks, glaucoma, macular degeneration, dry eyes, eye strain/headaches, and cataracts. Dr. Wernick's advanced training in developmental vision, makes him a sought after provider for pediatric patients, special needs, post concussion, post stroke and sports vision.