Identification of Performance Variables in Blind 5-A-Side Football: Physical Fitness, Physiological Responses,...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Disability Sport

Background:

• Blind 5-A-side football demands specific physical, physiological, and technical-tactical adaptations.
• Recovery processes like sleep and well-being are crucial for performance in visually impaired athletes.
• A systematic review on performance variables in this sport was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify performance variables in blind 5-A-side football.
• To analyze physical fitness, physiological demands, technical-tactical actions, and recovery in this population.
• To synthesize current scientific evidence on performance optimization.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, etc.).
• Adherence to PRISMA guidelines and PICOS strategy for study selection.
• Methodological quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool.

Main Results:

• Predominance of descriptive and observational studies, with some longitudinal interventions.
• Key variables studied include aerobic capacity, cardiovascular response, anthropometry, strength, power, injury risk, balance, and postural control.
• Technical-tactical analysis focused on shot effectiveness, control, dribbling, and shooting actions; sleep was the primary recovery variable investigated.

Conclusions:

• Training should integrate physical fitness, physiological demands, and refined decision-making/offensive actions.
• Current scientific output is limited, necessitating more methodologically rigorous studies with diverse samples.
• Further research is crucial to enhance performance and understanding in blind 5-A-side football.