Athletes characteristics and functional classification 71

Generally, athletes with physical disabilities (for example amputations or spinal injuries) are involved in wheelchair sports such as wheelchair basketball, tennis and rugby. Other disability groups may include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, polio, and other neurological conditions, which affect the muscle strength and mobility of arms and legs. Athletes of all ages, size and weight can participate during a game in any of the above sports. To ensure equitable competition, each of these sports has its own functional classification. The classification process assesses physical capacity (skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus of the athlete) and

determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together in a team for competition [34]. After classification takes place, each athlete is provided with a ‘sports class’. People involved in the sports often refer to the sport classes by using a range of numbers (points) to identify athletes or wheelchairs (i.e. high, mid or low point athletes). The following is a brief description of the classification system in each sport:

Wheelchair tennis: two classes; ‘open class’ (lower body impairment and full

function in upper body extremities), and ‘quad class’ (impairment affecting arms and legs, which limits athlete’s ability to handle the racket and to move the wheelchair compared with open class athlete). The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is responsible for functional classification of wheelchair tennis athletes [71].

Wheelchair basketball: wheelchair basketball is played by a diverse group of

athletes; most of them paraplegic athletes with full functionality of the upper extremities. Any differences between athletes’ functional capacity and ability are determined by range of trunk function according to the functional classification set by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF). The sport-specific functional classification assigned to the athlete is a number in the range of 1.0 to 4.5 [72]. The sport has defence/offense (outside basketball) and centre players (inside basketball) and their chairs are fitted accordingly. Defence/offense players favour manoeuvrability and fast acceleration, and centre players favour height to play in the bucket [17].

2.2.1 Wheelchair rugby athletes

Wheelchair rugby is specifically designed for athletes with Tetraplegia (Quadriplegia), upper and lower extremity function is restricted depending on the level and completeness of the lesion in the spinal cord. Based on the IWRF classification manual and an athlete's level of mobility, athletes are allocated one of seven sport classes ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 [11], which in most cases determines an athlete's specific position on court and role in game strategy. Table 2.1 outlines some of the characteristics of athlete classifications with respect to wheelchair propulsion.

Table 2.3 Characteristics of wheelchair rugby athletes functional classification. (Adapted from [11]).

0.5

Typical role on court is defense / blocker. Sits low in wheelchair.

Covers a short distance/volume on court. Shows a relatively slow transition/recovery from one function to the next.

Forward head with bob when pushing.

Uses back quarter of wheel to stop, start and turn; often uses forearms to turn and stop. Flexes trunk forward and use forearms to press down on wheel to decelerate/stop.

Unopposed biceps-push with abduction of the arm and internal rotation of shoulder. Demonstrates consistent proximal shoulder instability.

1.0

Typical role on court is defense / blocker.

Multidirectional start, stop and turn—including wheeling backwards. May have slight head bob throughout pushing, especially visible in starts.

Triceps-push with longer contact on wheel actively propelling, may have some ability to reverse pushing on back of wheel.

Shoulder strength is more balanced compared to the 0.5 athlete; hence, arms are less abducted during pushing. May use wrist extensors to hook under rim when pushing.

2.0

Good shoulder strength and stability, allows for very effective pushing, quick stops, starts, turns.

Increasing role on court as a ball handler. Rims the ball using wrist flexion with wrist in neutral or flexed position. Limited to no finger function. Effective chest pass with control and consistency; typically flat if maximum distance. Control and distance in overhead pass is limited.

3.0

Typical role on court is offense, very good ball handler and fast play maker.

Ability to grip wheel rim can increase pushing control and speed, especially in stops, starts and turns.

Normal shoulder, elbow and wrist strength; finger flexion and extension with weakness in flexion in the MCP joints and/or thumb opposition and abduction. Uses functional finger function in flip pass, rimming the ball, stabilizing with opposite arms to allow greater reach. Strong ball security in all positions.

1.5 2.5 3.5

These classes were created for individuals whose movement abilities “fall between” whole point classes because they display asymmetrical or varied upper extremity and/or trunk function, e.g.

Asymmetrical push; asymmetrical arm function. One-sided ball handling skills.

Athletes with a sport class between 0.5 and 1.5 are normally referred to as ‘low point’ (LP) athletes and play defence. Athletes classed between 1.5 and 2.5 are commonly referred to as ‘mid point’ (MP) athletes who play ball strategy. Athletes classed between 2.5 and 3.5 are referred to as ‘high point’ (HP) athletes and generally play offence. The higher number is intended for those athletes who have higher function on court and the lower numbers for those athletes with less function on court.