Desempenho físico, desequilíbrio muscular e prevalência de lesões em atletas de judô com deficiência visual

Abstract

Introduction: Judo for visually impaired such as ophthalmological classification and starting the match with a grip on the judogi. The absence of vision may lead to neuromuscular adaptations that contribute to muscle imbalances, which can be associated with interlimb asymmetries, bilateral strength deficit (BSD), and musculoskeletal injuries. Research suggests that muscle imbalances negatively affect judo athletes' performance and may increase injury risk, especially in high-performance contexts such as Paralympic judo. Objective: To analyze muscle asymmetry levels between limbs, bilateral strength deficit, and the prevalence of injuries in visually impaired judo athletes. Method: Eighteen athletes with visual impairments from the Brazilian Paralympic Judo Team participated, with an average age of 29.6 ± 8.2 years. This dissertation is structured into two main axes, which correspond to two cross-sectional studies. The first investigated the prevalence of injuries and their relationship with muscle imbalances in athletes with congenital and acquired visual impairments. The second analyzed the magnitude and direction of asymmetries through physical tests, including countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), and handgrip strength (HGS). Data were treated cross-sectionally, evaluating associations between biomechanical variables, motor adaptations, and injury reports. Results: Athletes with congenital visual impairment showed a higher prevalence of injuries compared to those with acquired impairment, attributed to specific biomechanical adaptations. Tests such as CMJ and MBT indicated asymmetry levels exceeding 10%, whereas HGS showed asymmetries below this threshold. The direction of asymmetries varied among tests, suggesting multifactorial influences, including impairments in intersegmental coordination and postural balance due to visual impairment. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of understanding the biomechanical and neuromuscular specificities of visually impaired judo athletes. Despite limitations such as the small sample size and the study's cross-sectional nature, the results provide a basis for future longitudinal investigations and for developing targeted interventions aimed at injury prevention in this population.