Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term soccer life on foot reaction time to visual and auditory stimuli in footballers comparing with dominant and non-dominant foots.

Materials and Methods: Total of 30 male, 15 soccer players (subject group) (mean age: 22.9±2.4 year) and untrained 15 students (control group) (mean age: 22.4±1.9 year) were participated voluntarily in to this study. Reaction time of subjects were measured using electronic reaction timer in both two foots for audio and visual. Independent and paired t test were used as statistical method.

Results: No statistical significant differences were found between dominant and non- dominant leg of footballers for visual and auditory reaction times (For both two foot voice: 0.18, light:0. 21sec). Despite this, there were significant differences in foot reaction times of untrained group (p<0.05) (Dominant foot: voice; 0.18 sec, light; 0.21sec, non- dominant foot: voice; 0.20 sec, light; 0.22 sec). In both groups, reaction time values to voice were better than to light. Reaction time values of footballers were significantly lower according to untrained group.

Conclusion: The results from this study support the viewpoint that long-term football life is effective to decrease the reaction time of footballers. ©2006, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi