S5 (classification)
[9][10][11] Because of the potential for balance issues related to having an amputation, during weight training, amputees are encouraged to use a spotter when lifting more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
To keep their oxygen consumption rate similar to people without lower limb amputations, they need to walk slower.
[9][11] Because of the potential for balance issues related to having an amputation, during weight training, amputees are encouraged to use a spotter when lifting more than 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
To keep their oxygen consumption rate similar to people without lower limb amputations, they need to walk slower.
Common problems with intact upper limbs for people in this class include rotator cuffs tearing, shoulder impingement, epicondylitis and peripheral nerve entrapment.
This puts competitors with CP at a disadvantage when competing against people with amputations who do not lose coordination as a result of exertion.
As they get up to speed, this movement causes turbulence which slows them down and they need additional strokes to compensate.
[33][34] Disabled Sports USA defined the anatomical definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have full power at elbow and wrist joints.
[35] Disabled Sports USA defined the functional definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have nearly normal grip with non-throwing arm.
[37] 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.
[38] S5 swimmers with spinal cord injuries tend to be complete paraplegics with lesions below T1 to T8, or incomplete tetraplegics below C8 who have decent trunk control.
Because they have minimal trunk control, their hips tend to be a bit lower in the water and they have leg drag.
[42] Disabled Sports USA defined the functional definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have no sitting balance.
[37] S5 swimmers with spinal cord injuries tend to be complete paraplegics with lesions below T1 to T8, or incomplete tetraplegics below C8 who have decent trunk control.
Because they have minimal trunk control, their hips tend to be a bit lower in the water and they have leg drag.
[34][44] Disabled Sports USA defined the anatomical definition of this class in 2003 as, "Normal upper limb function.
"[34] 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.
[47] S5 swimmers with spinal cord injuries tend to be complete paraplegics with lesions below T1 to T8, or incomplete tetraplegics below C8 who have decent trunk control.
Because they have minimal trunk control, their hips tend to be a bit lower in the water and they have leg drag.
[34][49] People with lesions at L4 have issues with their lower back muscles, hip flexors and their quadriceps.
[50] Disabled Sports USA defined the functional definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have very good sitting balance and movements in the backwards and forwards plane.
Swimmers in this class lack full propulsion in their kicks because of a slight loss of function in one limb.
This policy was put into place in 2014, with the goal of avoiding last minute changes in classes that would negatively impact athlete training preparations.
All competitors needed to be internationally classified with their classification status confirmed prior to the Games, with exceptions to this policy being dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
[63] Sometimes the health examination may not be done on site for amputees in this class because the nature of the amputation could cause not physically visible alterations to the body.
[15] In Australia, to be classified in this category, athletes contact the Australian Paralympic Committee or their state swimming governing body.
[65] Swimmers who have competed in this classification include Olena Akopyan,[66] Dmytro Kryzhanovskyy[66] and Inbal Pezaro[66] who all won medals in their class at the 2008 Paralympics.
[66] American swimmers who have been classified by the United States Paralympic Committee as being in this class include Matthew Papenheim, Ty Payne and Roy Perkins.
