Introduction: Exercise cardiovascular research has historically focused on non-para athletes. Studies to date have under-represented the cardiac characteristics of para-athletes, despite their unique cardiovascular physiology and risks. There may be significant overlap of such conditions with cardiac pathology that could be overlooked. Therefore, we aim to study the outcomes of pre-participation cardiac screening including resting ECG in Sub-Saharan African visually impaired football players. Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional and comparative study was conducted in November 2025. The study population consisted of Senegalese male visually impaired football players who were divided into two groups according to the nature of their visual impairment: Group 1 (n = 17), composed of completely blind players (B1 category), and Group 2 (n = 8), composed of visually impaired players (B2 or B3 category) and sighted players. Participants were examined at the Functional Exploration Department of the Thies Regional Hospital, where they underwent a clinical examination followed by a resting ECG recording. Results: The study population consisted of 25 players from five Senegalese regions, reflecting a national representation of the discipline, with an average age of 18.92 ± 2.92 years, ranging from 15 to 25 years. The mean heart rate was 77 ± 9 bpm, with a range from 59 to 90 bpm. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 119 ± 8 mmHg and 73 ± 9 mmHg, respectively. Electrocardiographically, all players exhibited a normal sinus rhythm, axis, and QTc interval. Most athletes (96%) showed ECG signs consistent with an electrical athlete’s heart, with a predominance of early repolarization (88%), following by LVH (84%), and LAE (28%). A significantly higher heart rate was found in Group 2 compared to blind players (p = 0.01). The common ECG changes were more numerous in Group 1 but occurred at lower percentages compared to Group 2, specifically regarding repolarization abnormalities, LVH, and LAE. Conclusion: Practice of blind football (Football 5-a-side) induces cardiac adaptations similar to those observed in sighted athletes, but less frequently, regardless of the degree of visual impairment.
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