Effects of a sensorimotor training program on balance and knee motor control in male handball players with hearing impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

The ability to maintain balance may be reduced in individuals with hearing impairment compared to healthy populations, potentially increasing injury risk in sports contexts. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a sensorimotor training program on balance and knee motor control in male handball players with hearing impairment. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 24 male handball players with hearing impairment (28 ± 6.3 years), randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12). The experimental group completed a five-week sensorimotor training program (20 sessions), while the control group continued regular training. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test, while knee motor control was evaluated using joint position sense and a sport-specific agility test. Between-group and within-group differences were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t-tests, with effect sizes calculated using Cohen's d. Results indicate improvements in dynamic balance and knee joint position sense in the experimental group, while no significant improvements were observed in agility performance. These findings suggest that sensorimotor training may improve selected components of motor control in athletes with hearing impairment.