T53 (classification)

During classification, they both undergo a bench test of muscle strength and demonstrate their skills in athletics.

"[1] The Australian Paralympic Committee defines this classification as being for "Athletes with normal upper limb function, with no abdominal or lower spinal strength (poor sitting balance).

Use different techniques to compensate for lack of abdominal musculature including lying horizontal.

"[4] The International Paralympic Committee defined this classification on their website in July 2016 as, " Athletes typically have full function of the arms but no abdominal or lower spinal muscle activity (grade 0)".

[6][7] In general, Les Autres classes cover sportspeople with locomotor disabilities regardless of their diagnosis.

[18] Sportspeople in this class use wheelchairs on a regular basis as a result of reduced muscle function.

[19] ACSM's Primary Care Sports Medicine defines LAF1 as a medical class as "[s]evere involvement of the four limbs -- for example, MS, muscular dystrophy (MD), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) with contractures" As a functional class, ACSM's Primary Care Sports Medicine defines LAF1 as "use of wheelchair with reduced function of muscle strength and/or spasticity in throwing arm, and poor sitting balance.

"[20] Medically, this class includes people with severe multiple scleroris, muscular dystrophy, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with contractures.

In terms of functional classification, this means the sportsperson uses a wheelchair, has poor sitting balance and has reduced strength or spasticity in their throwing arm.

[21] Sportspeople with muscular dystrophy in this class have a number of factors that can make sports participation difficult.

This includes poor pulmonary function, and potentially having restrictive lung disease values.

[25] Sportspeople in this class use wheelchairs on a regular basis as a result of reduced muscle function.

In terms of functional classification, this means the sportsperson uses a wheelchair, has moderate sitting balance, reduced limb function in their throwing limb but has good sitting balance while throwing.

[21] For the 1984 Summer Paralympics, LAF2 was defined by the Games organizers as, "Wheelchair bound with normal function in throwing arm and poor to no sitting balance.

"[27] People with spinal cord injuries compete in this class, including F3 sportspeople.

[28][30] Disabled Sports USA defined the anatomical definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have full power at elbow and wrist joints.

[31] Disabled Sports USA defined the functional definition of this class in 2003 as, "Have nearly normal grip with non-throwing arm.

[35] A person in this class with an additional impairment in the elbow of their throwing arm may find themselves classified as F52 instead.

[38] Field events open to this class have included shot put, discus and javelin.

[40] 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.

Officials can check for this by placing the chair against a wall, where the rear wheels should touch it without obstruction.

[42] Because this is a wheelchair class, different rules apply for overtaking with the responsibility lying with the racer coming from behind.

[42] In wheelchair races, the winner and time is determined by when the center of the front axle goes across the finish line.

Rests can be used on the frame but they need to be present only for safety reasons and to aide in athlete stability.

[42] People in this class can put tape on their non-throwing hand to assist in gripping the holding bar.

For other events, organizers generally have the option to use that formula to give all throwers six consecutive throws.

[42] The classification was created by the International Paralympic Committee and has roots in a 2003 attempt to address "the overall objective to support and co-ordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport focused classification systems and their implementation.

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.

During this, they both undergo a bench test of muscle strength and demonstrate their skills in athletics, such as pushing a racing wheelchair and throwing.