Evaluation of physical fitness parameters of hearing impaired adolescents who are active and non-active in sports

The aim of this study is evaluate the physical fitness parameters of 9 – 17 years old hearing impaired adolescents who were active and non active in sports. The study was included totally 65 students attended to the Kepez hearing impaired school; 40 (26 male, 14 female) active in sports (participating the team sports at least 3 days a week) with the mean age of 12.85 ± 2.83 years and 25 (14 male, 11 female) non- active in sports with the mean age of the 11.48 ± 3.20 years. Physical characteristics, physical fitness and body composition of the subjects have been evaluated in this study. For statistical analyses; mean values, standard deviations and frequency distributions were calculated for all variables. Independent samples t- tests was used to compare the active and non-active groups. As result of statistical analyses stature resting heart rate, flexibility, standing long jump, 20 m sprint, reaction time, hand grip strength, back and leg strength, sit-ups, vertical jump, and percent body fat values were found significantly different between the active and non-active hearing impaired groups (p 0.05). Consequently it has been revealed that participating the sport would positively influence the physical development, physical fitness and body composition characteristics of hearing impaired childrens.