USE OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TESTS BY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN BRAZILIAN DEAF SPORTS: CASE REPORTS

• Grant number: 24/08431-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Paula Regina Mendes da Silva Serrão
• Grantee: Ana Julia Possatto de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/08459-0 - UPPER BODY PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF ATHLETES WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss/deafness is an umbrella term used to describe individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss. The practice of sports is one of the means of social inclusion for these individuals within the Deaf community. In this sense, there is a demand for health professionals to accompany athletes who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HoH), such as sports physical therapists. Among the main resources used by these professionals are physical performance tests, however, the absence of studies in the literature that have explored the use of physical performance tests with athletes who are D/HoH is highlighted.Objective: To explore the experience of Brazilian physical therapists regarding the use of physical therapy evaluation through physical performance tests with athletes who are D/HoH.Methods: This is a cross-sectional, qualitative study, through the collection and analysis of case reports in parallel with the realization of a study through focus groups, with the participation of Brazilian physical therapists who work with athletes who are D/HoH. Initially, participants will answer a semi-structured questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and their work in physical therapy field. Then, the observation of the participants' reports on the use of physical performance tests during the focus groups will be carried out. The focus group sessions will take place remotely through the Google Meet platform in two meetings. From the recorded focus groups, the volunteers' reports will be transcribed, analyzed, and categorized by Bardin's (1977) inductive thematic analysis and content analysis.Expected results: Physical therapists are expected to use several clinical decision resources and physical performance tests in athletes who are D/HoH, in addition to adapting these tests during their performance.