USGA Eligible Impairments

As defined by the International Paralympic Committee

Impaired Muscle Power

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

Ex. spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, and spina bifida

Impaired Passive Range of Movement

Athletes with impaired passive range of movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints

Ex. arthrogryposis, and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilization or trauma affecting a joint

Limb Deficiency

Athletes with limb deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma, illness or congenital limb deficiency

Leg Length Difference

Athletes with leg length difference have a difference in the length of their legs as a result of a disturbance of limb growth or as a result of trauma

Short Stature

Athletes with short stature have a reduced length in the bones of their upper limbs, lower limbs, and/or trunk

Ex. achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta

Hypertonia

Athletes with hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system

Ex. cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke

Ataxia

Athletes with ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system

Ex. cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis

Athetosis

Athletes with athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements

Ex. cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and stroke

Vision Impairment

Athletes with vision impairment have reduced or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves, optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain

Ex. retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy

Intellectual Impairment

Athletes with an intellectual impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior which affects conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. Must present before age of 18