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Context: Physical performance tests (PPTs) and mobility tests have been widely used in sports rehabilitation. However, the feasibility of PPTs and mobility tests via telehealth is unknown. Objectives: To verify the feasibility of PPTs and mobility tests to assess athletes via telehealth. Design: This is a feasibility study. Participants: Athletes enrolled in a sports team or club for at least 2 years and with previous enrollment in a competitive league were recruited through advertisements on social media. The athletes included in this study (mean age = 25.9 y, from different sports) performed a battery of PPTs and mobility tests for the lower-extremity or upper-extremity and trunk, according to their sport modality. Main Outcome Measure: The feasibility was assessed with recruitment, success, and dropout rates. In addition, athletes' perceptions of easiness, satisfaction, and safety during the lower-extremity or upper-extremity and trunk PPTs and mobility tests were assessed. Results: Seventy-three athletes were included, between January and April 2021: 41 were allocated to the lower-extremity and 32 to the upper-extremity and trunk PPTs and mobility test, according to their sports modality. The overall dropout rate was 20.55%; >89% of the athletes agreed that the PPTs and mobility tests via telehealth were easy to perform, >78% were satisfied, and >75% felt safe during the assessments. Conclusion: This study indicated that these 2 batteries of performance and mobility tests via telehealth are feasible to assess the lower and upper-extremities, and the trunk of athletes, considering the adherence, athletes' perception of easiness, satisfaction, and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Lower extremity physical performance tests (PPTs) have been widely used in sports rehabilitation and are commonly performed in person. However, some situations may disrupt the in-person health care delivery, such as social distancing due to the pandemic, traveling, and living in remote locations. Those situations may require adjustments in planning and applying measurement tests, and telehealth has become an alternative. Nevertheless, the reliability of lower extremity PPT tests via telehealth is still unknown. Objectives: To verify the test–retest reliability, SEM, and the minimum detectable change (MDC95) of PPTs via telehealth. Methods: Fifty asymptomatic athletes completed 2 assessment sessions 7 to 14 days apart. The assessment via telehealth consisted of warm-up exercises followed by the single-, triple-, and side-hop tests, and the long jump test, in random order. Intraclass correlation coefficient, SEM, and MDC95 were calculated for each PPT. Results: Single-hop test showed good to excellent reliability, with SEM and MDC95 ranging from 6.06 to 9.24 cm and 16.79 to 25.61 cm, respectively. The triple-hop test showed excellent reliability, with SEM and MDC95 ranging from 13.17 to 28.17 cm and 30.72 to 78.07 cm, respectively. Side-hop tests showed moderate reliability, with SEM and MDC95 ranging from 0.67 to 1.22 seconds and 2.00 to 3.39 seconds, respectively. The long jump test showed excellent reliability, with SEM and MDC95 ranging from 5.34 to 8.34 cm and 14.80 to 23.11 cm, respectively. Conclusion: The test–retest reliability of those PPTs via telehealth was acceptable. The SEM and MDC were provided to assist clinicians in interpreting those PPTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaf sport involves the practice of sports performed by deaf athletes, contributing to the development of self-esteem, quality of life and greater social participation of members of the deaf community. Thus, physical therapy performance plays a fundamental role in maintaining and improving the functional capacity of this population. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is a process that integrates the best scientific evidence, the physical therapist's clinical experience and the patient's preferences, aiming to offer an adequate and efficient service and treatment, guaranteeing quality of care. Thus, EBP should be used by professionals in clinical practice with the deaf athlete population. However, no studies are found in the literature that highlight its use by professionals working with this population. Evaluate the knowledge and use of EBP by physical therapists who work in deaf sports This is a pilot study, conducted in parallel with a quantitative exploratory cross-sectional study. Brazilian physical therapists participated, female and male, who had been working for at least 3 months in deaf sports and who were associated with state deaf sports federations or the Brazilian Confederation of Deaf Sports (CBDS). A semi-structured questionnaire was used, prepared by the research team, with questions about personal and demographic data, professional training, and the use of EBP. Nominal and/or ordinal variables were described in absolute and relative frequency. Five physical therapists (30.4±3.36 years) participated, mostly male (60%, n=3). 80% of the participants (n=4) had already heard about EBP, with 60% (n=3) indicating that they use EBP partially in their appointments, and 20% (n=1) said that EBP is a determining factor in choosing the best conduct. As resources used for clinical decision-making, 100% (n=5) use clinical experience, 80% (n=4) use clinical practice guidelines and 60% (n=3) use scientific articles, demonstrating a non-homogeneous use of the pillars that support EBP. Regarding the updating of clinical knowledge, 80% (n=4) took courses and participated in scientific events/conferences, 60% (n=3) use scientific articles, 40% (n=2) reported participating in study groups and only 20% (n=1) reported using books, suggesting that knowledge updating may have often been based on sources with high risks of bias. Physical therapists who work in deaf sports are aware of EBP, use resources related to it, but still encounter difficulties and limitations for its applicability in clinical practice. Future studies, with more professionals, are necessary for a national overview of the knowledge of EBP by physical therapists who work in deaf sports. There are still no studies in the literature evaluating the influence of EBP on the performance of the physical therapist in Brazilian deaf sports, despite knowing that this can promote adequate, efficient, and higher quality physical therapy treatment. From the data found, professional education policies to promote greater knowledge and use of EBP by these professionals are necessary for a more qualified service to the deaf athlete population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]