Introduction to physical impairments: Impaired muscle power
Sport Classes T/F 51-57– Athletes with a physical impairment – Impaired muscle power and/or passive range of movement
Athletes in these athletics categories use racing wheelchairs and throwing frames in competition.
Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Impaired Passive Range of Movement include arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint.
Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a Health Condition that either reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles in order to move or to generate force.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Impaired Muscle Power include spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia or paraparesis), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida.
Rules & Regulations
The rules of Para Athletics are almost identical to those of its Olympic counterparts. Allowances are made to accommodate athlete’s functional impairments. Some modifications for athletes with impaired muscle power and range of motion include some of the following, this is not an exhaustive list. A full guide of the rules and regulations of World Para Athletics can be found here.
Helmet
- Wearing a helmet is compulsory in all road races, track, and relay races.
Gloves
- Wheelchair athletes can wear gloves in a variety of styles, both soft and hard gloves.
Overtake
- Athlete coming from behind in an attempt to overtake carries the responsibility of ensuring clearance before cutting in.
- The overtaking athlete cannot obstruct or impede the passing athlete when front wheels are in sight.
Break in line in 800
- Cones that divide lanes shall not be used in wheelchair races, particularly on the lane lines of the break line.
- A flag 1.5m in height on either end of the break line. Additionally, flat markers, may be placed immediately before the intersection of the lane lines and the break line for each lane for more visibility
- The athlete must stay in their lane until the bottom of both rear wheels that are touching the track surface cross the break line
Finish
- Finish place and time are determined when the centre of the front axle crosses the finish line
Athlete interview
Two of our Canadian Paralympians who compete as athletes with impaired muscle power and range of movement are both wheelchair racing athletes who also happened to be married with a young daughter. In our interview with them they shared what it’s like to be athletes and parents and how they manage it as a family.
Meet Alex and Ilana Dupont and their daughter, Amélia live in Québec and describe their daughter as being very much involved in our training schedule” Ilana shares that she likes to do yoga, dance and run while we are training and while it isn’t always easy to juggle a very busy household schedule, it is extremely rewarding and fun to share as a family.
Proud dad Alex adds: Our daughter is awesome! She is super understanding of what we do, and she loves to come hang out with us when we train. One thing that we did is to organize our lives so that we hardly have to leave our place. We have setup a really good training environment in our basement, we have IST that comes to us, we have our own manufacturing business with a shop just beside our house, our daughter's school is across the street from us. We go hard all day every day, but don't waste any time/energy running around.
How did you discover Para Athletics?
Alex: I was watching the 2004 Olympics on tv, and they showed a Paralympic demo event: 1500m with Chantal Peticlerc and Diane Roy. I knew right away I wanted to do that!
Ilana : My coach, Rick Reelie, introduced me to the sport. He saw potential in me that I didn't recognize at the time and invited me many times to come try it out. I refused multiple times because I wasn't very athletic before my injury, but once I tried it, I fell in love with track!
What tip would you offer coaches looking to get involved in Para Athletics?
I think a lot of coaches are afraid of the unknown. They don't understand how they could coach a Para athlete because they never been exposed to it. My advice is to dive in! They are just athletes like any other athletes, you might have to tweak some training methods but that's it, we need coaches!
