For high level tactical professionals, I expect an individual to show up with a high degree of output capacity. What I am interested in is how that output capability withstands sensorimotor challenges.
I approach this in 4 phases.
- Decrease peripheral visual inputs for movement
- Increase demands on visual system
- Increase vestibular demands
- Remove visual inputs
Phase 0 is baseline evaluation of speed and precision of the specific movement pattern we are stressing.
As we move through the four phases, I look at degradation of speed and precision of movement. Put another way, what sensorimotor stresses impact ownership of movement and ability to keep eyes up?
I leverage the “Eyes Up” and “Own the Night” developmental pathways to progressively and systematically overload the chosen movement pattern.
I can take it a step further and test various target positions – side to side, above and below, or around – to identify if there is a specific angular vestibular plane that results in the greatest degradation of output. That allows me to target a specific vestibular developmental pathway to prioritize training – yaw, pitch, roll.