Problem: although there are studies in the literature that measure visual and auditory reaction time, there are no protocols for interpreting these variables to apply them to athletes whose practice depends on this ability. Objective: to establish interpretation scales of visual and auditory reaction times in sports that use auditory reaction time (speed starts in athletics), and in sports that use visual reaction time (combat sports such as taekwondo, karate, boxing, fencing). Method: exploratory, descriptive, comparative and correlative study in which a sample of 97 athletes from athletics, karate-do, taekwondo, fencing and boxing was selected. Different instruments (REAC, video camera, Kinovea) were used to obtain the data and they were analyzed with the SPSS V23 program. The study complied with the Helsinki and Colombian Ministry of Health protocols. Results: values were found (median: milliseconds ms) for the visual reaction time of the hands of 179 and for the auditory reaction between 171 and 167 ms; the action time for the hands was between 208 and 213 ms; the time of pedic visual action was between 225 and 217 ms; the auditory pedic action time was between 212 and 208 ms. When comparing the data, significant differences were found (Wilcoxon test): a) between the reaction and action times of the hands (p <0.05), the time of the right hand being shorter; b) between the action time in the auditory pathway (p <0.5), the time for the right hand being shorter; c) pedic visual reaction time was shorter in the left foot; d) the action time was shorter for the right foot; e) the auditory reaction time was shorter for the left foot; and f) the auditory action time was shorter for the right foot. Conclusion: reaction time and action, both visual and auditory, differ in their values. Athletes can develop some of these times in greater intensity, so it is necessary to separate each of their values. The values obtained in the laboratory are acceptably correlated with the values obtained in the field tests (rho Spearman between 0.325 and 0.524 p <0.05), so they can be used for the control and monitoring of athletes.
