Do You Play A Sport Where You Catch, Throw Or Hit A Ball? Parents, Coaches and Trainers Take Note!
Do you play a sport where you catch, throw or hit a ball?
Whether you are a kid just starting out or a seasoned All Star in a major league, this simple exercise is guaranteed to boost and fine tune your eye hand coordination.
==>> Get on a Power Plate and turn it on. Lowest setting which is usually 30hz or so. Take a tennis ball. Throw it back and forth to each hand.
Try and throw the ball directly over your head as you look up.
This simple exercise is going to train your brain to help you improve your ability to catch, hit and throw a ball quickly.
Think about a quarterback in the pocket trying to speed up decision making. A shortstop. A golfer trying to hit a more consistent shot. Free throws. etc etc.
The Power Plate forces your brain to become better because it is performing this exercise on a massively destabilizing force.
Here Is The Science:
Using a PowerPlate (the world standard in harmonic whole-body vibration) can enhance eye-hand coordination and proprioception through its unique mechanism of delivering high-frequency vibrations (typically 30–50 Hz) to the body.
These vibrations stimulate muscles, tendons, and sensory systems, creating a dynamic environment that challenges and improves neuromuscular coordination. Below is an explanation of how PowerPlate use contributes to these specific outcomes:
The vibrations from the PowerPlate cause rapid muscle contractions (30–50 times per second), engaging fast-twitch muscle fibers and stimulating the nervous system.
This heightened neuromuscular activity sharpens the brain’s ability to process visual stimuli and coordinate hand movements quickly and accurately.
For example, performing exercises like catching or throwing a ball while on the vibrating platform requires the brain to integrate visual tracking with precise hand movements under unstable conditions, enhancing reaction speed and accuracy.(https://powerplate.com/blogs/news/how-does-power-plate-work
Exercises on the PowerPlate, such as balancing while performing hand movements (e.g., tossing a ball or using resistance bands), challenge the visual-motor system.
The unstable vibrating surface forces the eyes to track moving objects or targets while the hands respond, mimicking real-world scenarios like sports or daily activities that demand eye-hand coordination.
This is similar to reactive hand-eye drills, which improve the speed and precision of visual-motor responses
The vibrations stimulate sensory receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the muscles and joints, providing real-time feedback to the brain about body position and movement.
This enhanced sensory input strengthens the connection between visual processing and motor output, improving the brain’s ability to guide hand movements based on what the eyes see. For instance, performing tasks like placing objects or catching on the PowerPlate trains the brain to adjust hand movements rapidly in response to visual cues.
The PowerPlate’s vibrations activate mechanoreceptors in muscles, tendons, and joints, heightening the body’s awareness of its spatial orientation.
This increased sensory input strengthens the proprioceptive feedback loop, allowing the brain to better monitor and adjust body positioning. Studies show that WBV enhances proprioceptive control, which is essential for tasks requiring precise limb placement.
Standing, squatting, or performing dynamic movements on the vibrating platform creates an unstable environment that challenges balance. The body must continuously adjust to maintain stability, engaging core muscles and fine-tuning proprioceptive responses.
For example, exercises like single-leg stands or lunges on the PowerPlate improve lower limb proprioception, which indirectly supports upper body coordination tasks by providing a stable base.
To maximize benefits, incorporate exercises like catching/throwing a ball, performing resistance band movements, or balancing tasks on the PowerPlate for 5–10 minutes, 2–3 times per week. Progress from simple to complex tasks (e.g., catching with two hands to one hand) to challenge coordination and proprioception.
