Rowing
The following sport categories are developed to create fair racing on the Indoor Rower. Conditions affecting athlete’s ability and defining sport categories must be permanent in nature. Organ removal, by itself, does not qualify someone for any para rowing sport category. Pain, by itself does not qualify someone, Disability experienced post-surgery is a temporary condition and does not qualify someone for any para category.
Note: If you are uncertain or have any questions please contact Alexis Demars at Concept2 (alexisd@concept2.com or call 800.245.5676 ext. 3086).
PR1 (Arms and Shoulders)
This category is for rowers who have minimal to no trunk function (i.e. shoulder function only). A PR1 class rower is able to apply force predominantly using the arms and/or shoulders. These athletes will likely also have poor sitting balance. In addition, these athletes are not able to use the sliding seat to transfer their power to the ergometer because of significantly weakened function or mobility of the lower limbs. Eligible rowers may typically have but are not limited to Cerebral Palsy – affecting both leg and trunk function, or neurological impairment with a complete lesion at T12 level or an incomplete lesion at T10 level.
PR2 (Trunk and Arms)
This category is for rowers who have functional use of the trunk and who are not able to use the sliding seat to transfer their power to the ergometer because of significantly weakened function or mobility of the lower limbs. Examples for this class would be bilateral around knee amputation, or significantly impaired quadriceps, or neurological impairment equivalent to a complete lesion at L3 level, or an incomplete lesion at L1.
PR3 (VI) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Blind or Visually Impaired)
This category is for rowers who have functional use of their leg(s),trunk and arm(s) for rowing and who can utilize the sliding seat. In addition, these athletes have permanently impaired vision. These athletes have reduced or no vision. Maximum vision of 10% of normal in best eye with best correction from visual acuity above 02/60 up to visual acuity of 06/60 and or field of vision between 5% and 20%.
PR3 (ID) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Intellectually Disabled)
This category is for rowers who have functional use of their leg(s), trunk and arm(s) for rowing and who can utilize the sliding seat. These athletes have tested 75% or less for intellectual quotient.
PR3 (AK) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Single Leg, Above the Knee Amputee)
This category is for rowers who have functional use of one leg, their trunk and arm(s) and can utilize the sliding seat. LTA–AK rowers must row without the use of a prosthetic on a standard sliding erg seat. If they prefer to use their prosthetic they should enter the PR3 (PD) sport category.
PR3 (SA) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Single Arm)
This category is for PR3 rowers only able to row with a single arm connection to the ergometer handle. These athletes have similar disabilities to the LTA–PD sport category, however, they also have a permanent condition that allows for only one arm, partial or complete, with or without use of a prosthetic device on that same single arm, to have connection with a standard or modified ergometer handle. These athletes may have an amputation or loss of function to one arm, allowing them to pull the erg handle with the remaining partial or fully functional arm.
PR3 (PD) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Physically Disabled)
This category is for rowers who have functional use of their leg(s), trunk and arm(s) for rowing and who can utilize the sliding seat. Eligible rowers in this sport category include single leg below the knee amputees, arm and hand amputees where both upper limbs have connection to the erg handle via adaptations), up to three missing fingers on one hand, neurological impairment equivalent to incomplete S1 spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, trans metatarsal amputation of the foot.
PR3 (GD) (Leg Trunk and Arms—Genetic Dwarfism)
This category is for rowers who have a genetic dwarfism condition, as established by the International Dwarf Sports Federation (“IDSF”). Examples of this category would be athletes with achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia, pseudoachondroplasia, SED, Kneist, metatropic dysplasia. Current IDSF criteria: Height for disproportionate dysplasia shall not exceed 5 feet 2 inches for males (157.5 cm), female maximum height shall not exceed 5 foot (152.4 cm). Height for a proportionate dysplasia shall not exceed 5 foot (152.4 cm) for males, female maximum height shall not exceed 4 foot 10 inches (147.3 cm).
FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)
FES technology allows paraplegic athletes to stimulate paralyzed leg muscles. Rowers control their legs by pressing a button on the rowing machine handle, which then transmits electrical impulses through electrodes to the nerves controlling their leg muscles.
FES (AR) (Functional Electrical Stimulation with Assisted Return)
FES technology allows paraplegic athletes to stimulate paralyzed leg muscles. Rowers control their legs by pressing a button on the rowing machine handle, which then transmits electrical impulses through electrodes to the nerves controlling their leg muscles. In the assisted return category, the athletes receive help from a third-party in returning to the catch position.