IPC MEDICAL CODE

The preamble of the IPC Medical Code details the responsibility of the Paralympic Movement to ensure athlete health in sport participation:

“The Paralympic Movement, to accomplish its mission, encourages all stakeholders to take measures to ensure that sport is practiced in a manner that protects the health of the athlete and respects fair play and sports ethics. To that end, it encourages those measures necessary to protect the health of participants and to minimize the risks of physical injury, illness, and psychological harm. It also encourages measures that will protect athletes in their relationships with health care professionals. ”

(IPC Medical Code, Preamble, article 1).

a pair of prosthetic legs next to the Rio 2016 emblem

ⒸAl Tielemans for OIS/IOC

The IPC Medical Code provides a framework to all stakeholders in the Paralympic Movement on the following aspects of athlete health and wellbeing:

-   Relationships between athletes and health care professionals
-   Right to access appropriate care and treatment, and medical support
-   Protecting and promotion of athlete’s health during training and competition
-   Fitness to practice a sport
-   Consent to medical intervention and right of information, confidentiality and privacy rights

The IPC Governing Board has mandated the IPC Medical Committee to “advise the IPC Governing Board on all policy matters related to the medical care of Paralympic athletes.”

The IPC Medical Committee is addressing the following priorities for the 2014-2018 period:

-   TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) Management
-   Development of protocols for medical care at major events
-   Development of guidelines for periodic health evaluation for athletes and Officials
-   Optimise health and wellbeing policies
-   Advance Safe Sport agenda
-   Dissemination of knowledge
-   Advance athlete health and wellbeing research

The contact person for medical matters in the Paralympic Movement is the IPC Medical Manager, Ms. Judith van der Veen.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The IPC Medical Committee works in close collaboration with different external partners on the development of medical information sheets that address unique characteristics of Para athlete health and wellbeing.

Autonomic Dysreflexia and Boosting

Persons with cervical or high thoracic spinal injuries can suffer from an abnormal sympathetic reflex called Autonomic Dysreflexia. This reflex is caused by painful stimuli to the lower part of the body, particularly distension or irritation of the urinary bladder.

The symptoms of dysreflexia are a rapid rise in blood pressure, headache, sweating, skin blotchiness and gooseflesh. In serious cases, confusion, cerebral haemorrhage and even death can occur.

This reflex may happen spontaneously or may be deliberately caused (“Boosting”). As this is a health hazard, the IPC forbids athletes to compete in a hazardous dysreflexic state.

Details are outlined in the Position Statement on Autonomic Dysreflexia and Boosting.

Medical Equipment at Venues

HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT

Competing in hot and or humid weather conditions presents a variety of concerns, from adverse effects on performance to making athletes vulnerable to such illnesses as heat cramp, heat exhaustion and heat stroke Athletes with certain impairments have additional risk factors too but everyone needs to take steps to prepare for the heat and humidity and to reduce its adverse effects.

Paris 2024
During the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games heat threatens to be an issue that can create a challenging environment for competition from the heat and humidity perspective.
The IPC with support from its Medical Committee and some leading experts have prepared detailed but simple advice sheets to help you. It is important to acclimate before travel and decide upon your individual strategy and purchase any equipment needed in advance.

Below you will find four helpful guides: