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CrossFit/Adaptive CrossFit

CrossFit/Adaptive CrossFit

About

Adaptive CrossFit is a specialized approach to fitness that aims to make exercise accessible to individuals with disabilities. It is an inclusive fitness program that adapts traditional CrossFit workouts to meet the unique needs and abilities of each individual.

 

Adaptive CrossFit offers a wide range of physical and mental benefits for individuals of all abilities. By modifying workouts and movements, adaptive athletes can improve their strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall fitness.

 

Through a combination of cardiovascular exercises, weightlifting, and bodyweight movements, adaptive athletes can build strength, increase coordination, and boost their self-confidence.

Equipment

Click here for a list of adaptive CrossFit equipment.

Competition

Last year, CrossFit welcomed a new host of divisions: the adaptive divisions. Nearly 1,000 athletes from around the world competed in the 16 new divisions during the 2021 CrossFit Open, completing versions of each workout modified according to division but no less a test of fitness.

 

With their accomplishments in the Open and at the CrossFit Games last year, adaptive athletes proved their fitness and enriched our sport. CrossFit is proud to bring the divisions back to the competition in 2022, honed and improved after their inaugural season.

 

When you register for the Open, you’ll be asked to choose the appropriate division, and you’ll be grouped on the official CrossFit Games Leaderboard alongside athletes who have similar disabilities.

 

The CrossFit Open includes 16 adaptive athlete divisions:

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Upper Extremity

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Lower Extremity

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Neuromuscular

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Vision

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes With Hip Function

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Seated Athletes Without Hip Function

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Short Stature

 

  • Men and Women Adaptive: Intellectual

 

To be eligible for classification in the adaptive divisions, an athlete must meet three general requirements:

 

  1. Prove the presence of a diagnosed and documented permanent impairment (i.e., health condition or diagnosis) from the list of 10 eligible impairments; and

 

  1. Have significant functional limitation(s) that prevent them from inclusion in competition against athletes in the non-adaptive divisions; and

 

  1. Meet the minimum-impairment criteria for one of the adaptive divisions.

 

Click here for more information.

Learn More

New This Season

 

Stages of Competition

 

After the Open, the top 20 athletes from each adaptive division will be invited to compete at an additional online competition that will serve as the Semifinal for three divisions and the final competition for five other divisions.

 

The Vision, Intellectual, Seated With Hip Function, Seated Without Hip Function, and Short Stature Divisions will compete in this stage to be crowned fittest. The Neuromuscular, Lower Extremity, and Upper Extremity divisions will send their top five athletes to compete in the finals in Madison.

 

Metrics for Eligibility

 

Minimum-impairment criteria define the presence of an eligible impairment and the degree of severity of an athlete’s impairment that must be present to be eligible for competition. In 2022, the minimum-impairment criteria for most divisions have been adjusted to include specific, objective measurements indicating degrees of limb deficiency, range of movement, muscle power, and more.

Programs Near You

Ready to try Adaptive CrossFit? Click here to find a location near you!