The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype
IntroductionConsidering the impact of individual differences on athletes’ performance, chronotype emerges as a crucial variable in training program design. Chronotype influences an individual’s ability to achieve peak physical and cognitive performance at different times of the day based on their bi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1589740/full |
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| author | Kemal Kurak İsmail İlbak Stefan Stojanović Ramazan Bayer Yunus Emre İlbak Krzysztof Kasicki Tadeusz Ambroży Łukasz Rydzik Wojciech Czarny Wojciech Czarny |
| author_facet | Kemal Kurak İsmail İlbak Stefan Stojanović Ramazan Bayer Yunus Emre İlbak Krzysztof Kasicki Tadeusz Ambroży Łukasz Rydzik Wojciech Czarny Wojciech Czarny |
| author_sort | Kemal Kurak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionConsidering the impact of individual differences on athletes’ performance, chronotype emerges as a crucial variable in training program design. Chronotype influences an individual’s ability to achieve peak physical and cognitive performance at different times of the day based on their biological rhythms. While numerous studies have explored the relationship between chronotype and physical performance, its effect on reaction time performance remains insufficiently investigated. In sports, where reaction time is a key determinant—such as in boxing—understanding this relationship could contribute to the personalization of training programs. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine how the visual reaction performance of active boxers varies at different times of the day based on their chronotypes.MethodsTwenty-four active boxers participated in the study. Their chronotypes were determined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, categorizing them as either morning type (M-type) or evening type (E-type). The participants were divided into two groups: M-type (n = 12) and E-type (n = 12). Each participant completed a visual reaction time (VRT) performance test at three different times of the day: morning (09:00 h), afternoon (13:00 h), and evening (17:00 h).ResultsThe findings revealed a statistically significant group × time interaction effect on VRT performance (p < 0.01). M-type athletes showed a significant decline in VRT performance during the evening compared to the morning and afternoon. In contrast, E-type athletes demonstrated significantly better performance in the evening compared to the morning.ConclusionsBoxers’ visual reaction time performance varies throughout the day depending on their chronotype. These results suggest that coaches and exercise specialists should consider athletes’ chronotypes when designing training programs focused on reaction time enhancement. To optimize performance, it is recommended that M-type athletes conduct such training sessions in the morning, while E-type athletes should train in the evening, when their reaction time performance tends to peak. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-95e03606cbe540fe896e5bf984f5c8d8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-95e03606cbe540fe896e5bf984f5c8d82025-08-20T02:11:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-04-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15897401589740The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotypeKemal Kurak0İsmail İlbak1Stefan Stojanović2Ramazan Bayer3Yunus Emre İlbak4Krzysztof Kasicki5Tadeusz Ambroży6Łukasz Rydzik7Wojciech Czarny8Wojciech Czarny9Faculty of Sport Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, TürkiyeInstitute of Health Sciences, İnönü University, Malatya, TürkiyeFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Niš, SerbiaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Teaching, Malatya Turgut Ozal University, Malatya, TürkiyeFaculty of Sport and Physical Education, İnönü University, Malatya, TürkiyeDepartment of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Andrzej Frycz-Modrzejewski Krakow University, Kraków, PolandInstitute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Culture, Kraków, PolandInstitute of Sports Sciences, University of Physical Culture, Kraków, PolandInstitute of Physical Culture Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Sports Kinanthropology, Faculty of Sports, Universtiy of Presov, Prešov, SlovakiaIntroductionConsidering the impact of individual differences on athletes’ performance, chronotype emerges as a crucial variable in training program design. Chronotype influences an individual’s ability to achieve peak physical and cognitive performance at different times of the day based on their biological rhythms. While numerous studies have explored the relationship between chronotype and physical performance, its effect on reaction time performance remains insufficiently investigated. In sports, where reaction time is a key determinant—such as in boxing—understanding this relationship could contribute to the personalization of training programs. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine how the visual reaction performance of active boxers varies at different times of the day based on their chronotypes.MethodsTwenty-four active boxers participated in the study. Their chronotypes were determined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, categorizing them as either morning type (M-type) or evening type (E-type). The participants were divided into two groups: M-type (n = 12) and E-type (n = 12). Each participant completed a visual reaction time (VRT) performance test at three different times of the day: morning (09:00 h), afternoon (13:00 h), and evening (17:00 h).ResultsThe findings revealed a statistically significant group × time interaction effect on VRT performance (p < 0.01). M-type athletes showed a significant decline in VRT performance during the evening compared to the morning and afternoon. In contrast, E-type athletes demonstrated significantly better performance in the evening compared to the morning.ConclusionsBoxers’ visual reaction time performance varies throughout the day depending on their chronotype. These results suggest that coaches and exercise specialists should consider athletes’ chronotypes when designing training programs focused on reaction time enhancement. To optimize performance, it is recommended that M-type athletes conduct such training sessions in the morning, while E-type athletes should train in the evening, when their reaction time performance tends to peak.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1589740/fullboxingcircadian rhythmsbiological clockmorningness-eveningnessfighting sports |
| spellingShingle | Kemal Kurak İsmail İlbak Stefan Stojanović Ramazan Bayer Yunus Emre İlbak Krzysztof Kasicki Tadeusz Ambroży Łukasz Rydzik Wojciech Czarny Wojciech Czarny The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype Frontiers in Physiology boxing circadian rhythms biological clock morningness-eveningness fighting sports |
| title | The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| title_full | The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| title_fullStr | The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| title_short | The effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers: evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| title_sort | effect of time of day on visual reaction time performance in boxers evaluation in terms of chronotype |
| topic | boxing circadian rhythms biological clock morningness-eveningness fighting sports |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1589740/full |
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