Longitudinal anthropometric and physical performance adaptations in the Polish Deaf National basketball team during a three-year preparation for the deaflympics

Abstract

Limited research has examined long-term training adaptations in elite Deaf athletes. This three-year longitudinal observational study characterized anthropometric and physical performance changes in the Polish Deaf National Basketball Team preparing for the Deaflympics (2019–2021). Eleven male athletes (age 26.9 ± 6.3 years) underwent annual assessments of body composition and performance, including countermovement jumps (CMJ, ACMJ), spike jump (SPJ), sprint speed (0–5 m, 0–20 m), and estimated VO₂max. A control group of physically inactive Deaf students (n = 15; age 21.1 ± 1.6 years) was also evaluated. Friedman ANOVA revealed stable body composition across seasons (p > 0.05; W = 0.01–0.22), except for a moderate increase in left-leg fat-free mass (p = 0.025; W = 0.33). While jump performance remained unchanged (p > 0.05; d = 0.18–0.32), sprint performance declined significantly (0–5 m: χ²(2) = 20.18, p < 0.001; 0–20 m: χ²(2) = 14.59, p = 0.001). Compared with inactive peers, players demonstrated superior physical capacity, including higher fat-free mass (d = 2.12), greater jump power (d = 3.46), and faster sprint times (d = − 1.03 to − 1.07), with a mean 2021 VO₂max of 47.3 ± 6.1 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹. In conclusion, these elite athletes maintained morphology and power but showed declining sprint performance, likely due to COVID-19 disruptions. This study provides the first longitudinal evidence of performance trajectories in elite Deaf basketball players, underscoring the need for individualized, acceleration-focused monitoring to sustain long-term neuromuscular performance.