EUROPEAN HANDCYCLING federation
HANDBIKE CLASSIFICATION (since 2014)
The following sport profiles determine the sport class in which the athlete will compete.
H 1
- Tetraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete cervical lesion at C6 or above
- Complete loss of trunk and lower limb function
- Limited extension of the elbow with a muscle score of 6 (total of both triceps)
- Limited handgrip
- Thermo-regulatory system limitations
- Impaired sympathetic nerve system
- Non-spinal cord injury, but functional ability profile equivalent to class H 1
- Recumbent position in handbike mandatory (AP-bikes)
- Severe spastic quadriplegic with/without athetosis/ataxic and elbow extensionlimitation (poor head and very poor trunk control)
H 2
- Tetraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete cervical lesion at C7/C8 or above
- Complete loss of trunk and lower limb function
- Thermo-regulatory system limitations
- Impaired sympathetic nerve system
- Non-spinal cord injury, but functional ability profile equivalent to class H 2
- Recumbent position in handbike mandatory (AP-bikes)
- Severe spastic quadriplegic with/without athetosis/ataxic and no elbow extensionlimitation (poor to fair head and very poor trunk control)
H 3.1
- Paraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete lesion from Th1 to Th3
- Very limited trunk stability
- Impaired sympathetic nerve system
- Non-spinal cord injury, but functional ability profile equivalent to class H 3.1
- Recumbent position in handbike mandatory (AP-bikes)
- Moderate quadriplegia with/without athetosis/ataxic. Poor trunk control, asymmetry in upper limbs
H 3.2
- Paraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete lesion from Th4 to Th9/Th10
- Limited trunk stability
- Non-spinal cord injury, but functional ability profile equivalent to class H 3.2
- Recumbent position in handbike mandatory (AP-bikes)
- Moderate quadriplegia with/without athetosis/ataxic. Poor trunk control, symmetrical upper limbs, severe hemiplegia (non-ambulant), severe diplegia (non-ambulant) and athetosis/ataxic (moderate upper limb involvement, severe lower limb involvement)
H 4
- Paraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete lesion from Th11 or below
- No lower limb function or limited function
- Normal or almost normal trunk stability
- Non-spinal cord injury, but functional ability profile equivalent to class H 4
- Incomplete loss of lower limb function, functional ability profile equivalent to classH3 or H4, with other disabilities, which prevent the safe use of a conventional bicycle, tricycle or the Kneeling position in a handbike
- Recumbent position in handbike (AP-bike)
- Severe diplegia and athetosis/ataxic (almost normal trunk and upper limb function, severe lower limb involvement), hemiplegic with spasticity Grade 2-3, lower limb more involved
H 5
- Paraplegic with impairments corresponding to a complete lesion from Th11 or below
- Double below or Double through knee amputee
- Single leg amputation (AK), minimal disability below knee amputation (BK)
- Incomplete loss of lower limb function, with other disabilities, which prevent the save use of a conventional bicycle or tricycle
- Kneeling Position (ATP-bike), in case of mobility reduction if prevents kneeling, the athlete can use a recumbent bike in H4
- Hemiplegic with spasticity Grade 2, lower limb more involved, mild to moderate diplegia or athetoids with almost normal trunk and upper limb function
H Open
- all other athletes (including the able bodied and unclassified athletes)