F2 (classification)
[1][2] In 2002, USA Track & Field defined this class as, " These athletes have limited or no hand function.
"[3] Disabled Sports USA defined the functional definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have difficulty gripping with non-throwing arm.
[5] The location of lesions on different vertebrae tend to be associated with disability levels and functionality issues.
[7] They can use a wheelchair using their own power, and do everyday tasks like eating, dressing, and normal physical maintenance.
[8] People with spinal injuries at T6 or higher are more likely to develop Autonomic dysreflexia (AD).
The condition causes over-activity of the autonomic nervous system, and can suddenly onset when people are playing sports.
Some of the symptoms include nausea, high blood pressure, a pounding headache, flushed face, profuse sweating, a lower heart rate or a nasal congestion.
Players in some sports like wheelchair rugby are encouraged to be particularly on guard for AD symptoms.
[12][13] From the 1950s to the early 2000s, wheelchair sport classification was handled International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF).
[19] The International Paralympic Committee manages classification for a number of spinal cord injury and wheelchair sports including alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, ice sledge hockey, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, and wheelchair dance.
The group most likely to try to cheat at classification were wheelchair basketball players with complete spinal cord injuries located at the high thoracic transection of the spine.
[29] Field events open to this class have included shot put, discus and javelin.
[30] The shot put used by women in this class weighs less than the traditional one at 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) .
[31] In the United States, people in this class are allowed to use strapping on the non-throwing hand as a way to anchor themselves to the chair.
It found there was little significant difference in performance in distance between women in 1A (SP1, SP2) and 1B (SP3) in the club throw.
It found there was little significant difference in performance in distance between men in 1A and 1B in the club throw.
It found there was little significant difference in performance in distance between men in 1A and 1B in the shot put.
It found there was little significant difference in performance in distance between women in 1A, 1B and 1C in the club throw.
[34][35][36][37] This classification can use an AP2 recumbent, which is a competition cycle that is reclined at 30 degrees and has a rigid frame.
This classification can also use an AP3 hand cycle which is inclined at 0 degrees and is reclined on a rigid competition frame.
[3][41] Swimming classification is done based on a total points system, with a variety of functional and medical tests being used as part of a formula to assign a class.
Part of this test involves the Adapted Medical Research Council (MRC) scale.
[42] With classified S1, these swimmers have no hand or wrist flexion so are unable to catch water.
They normally swim the backstroke as they lack head control to breathe effectively for the freestyle.
These S3 swimmers have leg drag when swimming as a result of their hips staying below the surface of the water during a race.
These S4 swimmers are able to use their hands and wrists to gain propulsion in the water but have some limits because of lack of full finger control.
[45] In 1991, the first internationally accepted adaptive rowing classification system was established and put into use.
People in this class do not have more than 70 points for functionality, have normal arm pitch for throwing and use a wheelchair.
[52] One of the standard means of assessing functional classification is the bench test, which is used in swimming, lawn bowls and wheelchair fencing.
The sixth test measures the trunk extension involving the lumbar and dorsal muscles while leaning forward at a 45 degree angle.
