Expert Opinion on Handcycling Classification: A Delphi Study Based on Scientific Evidence.
Rafael Muchaxo, Sonja de Groot, Lucas van der Woude and 3 others
PMID 40874911WHAT IT FOUND
Handcycling experts agreed classification should assess upper-limb, shoulder, and lower-limb function.
They did not agree on handgrip class separation, trunk strapping, or footrest rules for athletes with partial lower-limb function.
Key findings
01The panel reached consensus that upper-limb function should be included in H1 and H2 classification (91%), and that shoulder function should be assessed with elbow function (92%).
02The panel reached consensus that lower-limb function should be assessed in recumbent handcycling (81%), and that athletes with normal lower-limb function should not push against the footrest when competing with athletes with impaired lower limbs (79%).
03The panel reached consensus that trunk flexion is not a significant determinant of recumbent handcycling performance (90%) and that H3 or H4 allocation should not be based solely on trunk function and stability (95%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The panel was mostly men, with 40 of 53 members male. The panel was mostly from Europe, with 33 of 53 members from Europe. Fifty-three members started, and forty-four completed rounds two and three. Members could choose not able to answer, and those choices were excluded from consensus calculation. The study reports expert consensus, not patient outcomes or tested classification rules.
Declared interests
The paper says the UCI supported recruitment and communication. It does not report a funding source or author conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these consensus percentages as evidence that classification changes improve fairness or performance. They are expert opinions about rules, not tested interventions.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →