A Comparison of Reaction Times to a Kinesthetic and a Tactual Stimulus for Groups of Athletes and Non-athletes

Research in the prediction of athletic ability has for some years been of major interest in the minds of athletic coaches. This has been particularly true in the field of reaction-time studies. Movement and reaction to tactual stimuli are important attributes of the good athlete, and reaction time to various stimuli, such as visual, tactual, and auditory, have been used as a basis of prediction. This research attempted to study reaction-time measures to muscle sense by use of tactual and kinesthetic stimuli. This study compared reaction time to kinesthetic and tactual stimuli of athletes to that of non-athletes. It was felt that this knowledge could act as a determining factor in the prediction of athletic ability. Results could also be of importance to the field of physical education as a predictor of needed physical activities for the non-athlete, act as a guide in the teaching of new motor skills, and to take care of individual differences of the student