Paracanoe classification

• • • International Canoe Federation classification changed in April 2015. Please see:
      Main article: Paracanoe
      .

Paracanoe classification is the classification system for paracanoe. The sport will be on the 2016 Summer Paralympics programme.^[1] The International Canoe Federation and the International Va’a Federation jointly govern the sport globally.^[2]

Process

The International Paralympic Committee is working on improving classification across all sports to be an evidence-based system as opposed to a performance-based system so as not to punish elite athletes whose performance makes them appear in a higher class alongside competitors who train less.^[3]

A process to merge the classification systems used by the ICF and the IVF is being managed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).^[2]

ICF classification

The ICF classifies paddlers into three classes according to their impairments.^[2]

LTA

LTA-class competitors have functional use of their legs, trunk and arms for paddling, and can apply force to the foot board or the seat to propel the boat.

Types of impairments included in this class:

• Amputee
• Neurological Impairment equivalent to incomplete lesion at S1
• Cerebral Palsy Class 8 (CPISRA)

TA

TA-class competitors have use of the trunk and arms but are unable to apply continuous, controlled force to the footboard or seat to propel the boat due to a weakened function of the lower limbs.

Types of impairments included in this class:

• Bilateral around knee amputation or significantly impaired quadriceps
• Neurological impairment equivalent to a complete lesion at L3 level
• An incomplete lesion at L1 Cerebral Palsy Class 5 (CPISRA)

A

A-class competitors have no trunk function, they have shoulder function only. The paddler is able to apply force predominantly using the arms and/or shoulders and is likely to have poor sitting balance.

Types of impairments included in this class:

• Cerebral Palsy Class 4 (CPISRA)
• Neurological Impairment with a complete lesion at T12 level
• An incomplete lesion at T10

IVF classification

The IVF classification system is based on points with a higher number assigned to less impaired paddlers and lower points for more severe impairment. In team events the total number of points of a boat crew are limited; 26 points in 6-person boats and 52 for 12-person boats. In single-seat boats competition take place in three divisions; division 1 for 5 or 6-point paddlers, division 2 for 4-point paddlers and division 3 is for 2 or 3-point paddlers. 1-point paddlers do not participate in singles races.^[4](p1) The three divisions approximately correspond to the three ICF classes.^[2]

The classification points are assigned as follows:^[4](p8)

6-point

6-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• single below-knee amputation and use prostheses during competition
• bilateral below-knee amputation and use prostheses during competition.

5-point

5-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• single below-knee amputation without prosthesis
• single above-knee amputation with prosthesis
• bilateral above-knee amputation with prosthesis
• bilateral amputation, one above-knee and one below-knee with prostheses
• below-elbow amputation with prosthesis

4-point

4-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• hemipelvectomy
• hip disarticulation
• hand amputation with prostheses
• bilateral below-knee amputation without prostheses
• bilateral above-knee amputation without prostheses
• bilateral amputation, one above-knee and one below-knee without prostheses
• above-elbow amputation with prosthesis
• paraplegia without the need trunk support
• post-polio paralysis with one leg involvement
• cerebral palsy class 4 (CPISRA)

3-point

3-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• post-polio paralysis with minimal or no control of lower limbs
• paraparesis with the need for postural/trunk support

2-point

2-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• only one functioning upper limb
• hemiplegia
• cerebral palsy class 7 (CPISRA)
• cerebral palsy with the use of only one arm

1-point

1-point paddlers have the following impairments:

• cerebral palsy with no use of lower limbs and one arm
• brain injury with no use of lower limbs and one arm
• some paddlers with quadriplegia

References