The effect of participating into sport on the fitness level of youths with hearing impairment

The aim of the present study was to compare the physical fitness levels of physically active and sedentary individuals with hearing impairment. The study included physical active (G1) n=30 and sedentary (G2) n=15 students with upper level hearing impairment, ranging in age from 16 to 20 years and communicating through lip- reading and sign language. In order to determine the physical fitness level of the subjects, their anthropometric characteristics, and other characteristics such as aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, vertical jump, right and left hand grip and velocity were measured. Analysis of the data obtained from the subjects was made using the “Independent - Samples T” test. A significant difference was observed between G1 and G2 in terms of aerobic power (MaxVO2) respectively 54,3 and 45 ml/kg/dk, vertical jump 53,6 and 45 cm, anaerobic power 110.2 kg/m/sec, 100.4 kg/m/sec, and velocity- 30 m run 4.31 and 4.59 sec (p<0.05). In conclusion, it can be said that there was a favorable result in favor of the physical fitness level of the students with hearing impairment who had participated in a soccer training workout at least twice a week and, by means of that, their physical fitness level resembled that of the ones with no hearing impairment.