T37

This Class is for the true ambulant hemiplegic Athlete. A Class T37 Athlete has spasticity Grade 3 or 2 or moderate dystonia, athetosis or ataxia in one half of the body. They walk without assistive devices but often with a limp due to spasticity in the more impaired lower limb. Good functional ability in less impaired side of the body.

Upper extremities - arm and hand control is affected in the more impaired side. There is good functional control on the less impaired side.

Lower extremities - Less impaired side has better development and good follow through movement in walking and running. Athlete has difficulty walking on his heels and has significant difficulty with hopping on the more impaired leg. Side stepping towards the more impaired side is also affected. Athletes with mild to moderate athetosis do not fit into this Class.

In walking the Class T37 Athlete demonstrates a limp on the more impaired side. While running the limp may disappear almost totally. The reason is that in walking the leg support during stance phase begins with a heel strike. This is the most difficult action for Athletes with spastic hypertonia. In running only the forefoot hits the ground, providing support and push off. The tight calf muscle in the Class T37 Athletes facilitates the push off, and heel strike is not necessary. Thus a more normal looking running pattern occurs.

The Class T37 Athlete demonstrates a weakness in knee pick-up in sprinting and an asymmetrical stride length.