UPPER BODY PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF ATHLETES WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

• Grant number: 25/08459-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 20, 2025
• End date: February 19, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Paula Regina Mendes da Silva Serrão
• Grantee: Ana Julia Possatto de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Matthew Brancaleone
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ohio State University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/08431-5 - USE OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TESTS BY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS IN BRAZILIAN DEAF SPORTS: CASE REPORTS, BP.IC

Abstract

Hearing impairment affects approximately 430 million people worldwide and includes all degrees of hearing loss in one or both ears. Sports represent a valuable strategy for promoting inclusion, self-esteem, and skill development of the Deaf Community. The role of physical therapists has become increasingly relevant in supporting athletes who are D/HoH, due to the physical demands inherent to sports practice. Limited studies indicate that athletes who are D/HoH often show lower performance in strength, balance, and cardiorespiratory assessments. Physical performance tests, such as the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) and the Modified Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (mUQYBT), are widely used to assess upper limb stability, control, and mobility, serving as useful tools for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimization. This cross-sectional observational study aims to analyze upper limb physical performance in athletes who are D/HoH using the CKCUEST and mUQYBT, and to investigate possible correlations between sociodemographic characteristics and test outcomes. The study will be conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines and has been approved by the Biomedical Sciences Institutional Review Board at The Ohio State University (No. 2023H0312). Participants will be recruited by convenience sampling at Gallaudet University and must present hearing loss ¿55 dB in the better ear. Data will be collected through an online form and the administration of CKCUEST and mUQYBT tests adapted into American Sign Language (ASL). Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS 21.0, with Pearson or Spearman correlation tests, and a significance level set at p < 0.05. (AU)