Changes in standing stability when wearing different colored glasses cannot be determined by participants' subjective...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Human Physiology
• Perception

Background:

• Colored glasses are anecdotally believed to enhance balance and sports performance.
• Previous research on the efficacy of colored lenses for balance control remains inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between subjective color preference and standing balance performance.
• To assess the impact of wearing different colored glasses on balance control.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen participants performed single and double-leg stance trials on force platforms.
• Balance was assessed using center of pressure (CoP) variables and electromyography (EMG) of lower limb muscles.
• Participants wore red, blue, yellow, green, or transparent glasses in a randomized order.

Main Results:

• No significant overall effect of colored glasses on standing balance was detected.
• Some center of pressure (CoP) and electromyography (EMG) variables showed differences between colored glass conditions during dominant-leg stance.
• Participants were unable to consistently identify differences in standing stability across different colored glasses.

Conclusions:

• Lens color preference, potentially driven by psychological factors, may influence dominant leg standing balance.
• Subjective determination alone is insufficient to identify specific colored glasses that optimize an individual's standing balance.
• Further research is needed to explore the psychological mechanisms underlying the perceived effects of colored lenses on balance.