Skydiving Health Restrictions: Medical Conditions, Injuries & Accessibility Explained

Key Takeaways 
Skydiving health requirements are important but often less restrictive than people expect, especially for tandem jumps. Temporary issues like colds, sinus congestion, fatigue, or recent alcohol or drug use can delay your skydive due to safety and impairment rules, and there is zero tolerance for intoxication. Certain medical conditions may require extra consideration or a thumbs up from your doctor, with stricter standards typically applying to solo skydivers than tandem students. Mobility needs, accessibility accommodations, and disability considerations are handled on a case-by-case basis – talk to your doctor and contact the dropzone directly to explore your options.

Skydiving health requirements are commonly top of mind for those wishing to skydive. Before booking a jump, it’s necessary to look into skydiving medical restrictions to ensure peace of mind and to keep safe first. Eligibility for tandem skydiving is generally on a case-by-case basis – there are relatively few conditions that totally prohibit someone from taking the leap. 

Do You Need A Doctor’s Note To Skydive? 

Do you have to be medically cleared to skydive? Not generally. However, some dropzones may ask that a doctor’s note be presented if you’ve expressed concern about a specific medical condition. Each dropzone is different, and if this is requested it’s in the name of safety.

Tandem skydiving instructors do need to be medically cleared. They must obtain and maintain a Class III Medical certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, or an equivalent. 

General Skydiving Health Requirements 

We hear the term ‘generally good health’ quite often, but what exactly does that mean? It’s critical to define when it comes to skydiving risks and skydiving rules. 

In our world, being in generally good health means you don’t have medical conditions that could put you or others at risk with: entering or exiting the aircraft, a sudden change in altitude, rapid acceleration/deceleration, or the stress of a strong adrenaline rush. 

Think: no serious heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe back or neck issues, recent surgery, or uncontrolled neurological conditions like epilepsy.

Medical Conditions That Require Extra Consideration When Skydiving 

What if you have one of the conditions mentioned above? What health conditions stop you from skydiving? Let’s get into some common examples.

• Heart, Blood Pressure & Circulation
  
  Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and having an irregular heartbeat can put someone at risk when doing a high-adrenaline activity like skydiving. However, many people control these conditions with medication and lifestyle changes, which can increase their chances of skydiving and loving it!

• Respiratory & Neurological Conditions
  
  Asthma, COPD, seizures, or having a history of fainting should be considered before skydiving. These conditions are generally controlled with medication, which allows people facing these conditions to skydive. 

• Diabetes & Chronic Conditions
  
  Manageability is key. Without discrediting how debilitating chronic conditions can be, when well-managed, many can take part in extreme sports, like skydiving!

• Physical Fitness & Mobility Requirements
  
  You don’t need to be a marathon runner or bodybuilder to skydive, but a baseline level of flexibility, mobility, and core strength is necessary. The movements involved: crouching, arching, and lifting your legs can put strain on areas like the lower back, shoulders, knees, and core. If you have a pre-existing condition or previous injury affecting any of these areas, talk with your instructor beforehand so they can make accommodations. For a full breakdown of what to expect physically during your jump, check out our guide to fitness requirements.

• Joint, Back & Injury Concerns
  
  Even if you are in great health now, it’s important to consider your previous health. Were you in an accident that injured your neck? Did you have spinal surgery as a kid? What about your shoulders? Although many people who have endured previous injuries or major surgeries still skydive, it’s important to consider the specifics.
  
  For example, if you know your shoulders are wonky, you may want to keep your arms crossed over your chest during freefall to prevent the force of the wind from potentially hurting your shoulders. Talk through your history with your instructor so they can make recommendations or accommodations, as necessary.

• Temporary Conditions
  
  Can you go skydiving with a cold? It’s not advised! Colds clog up our sinuses and build pressure in our faces on the ground … put an unpressurized aircraft and swift altitude changes in the mix and it’s not a very fun time.
  
  Does skydiving hurt your ears? The rapid changes in altitude can cause you to feel a need to pop or clear your ears, but there is generally no long-lasting pain (unless you have a cold)!
  
  Being abnormally fatigued or fighting a cold or other illness is not the time to leap from an airplane. When in doubt, it’s better to delay and come back for your jump when you’re feeling 100%.

• Alcohol, Drugs & Skydiving Rules
  
  Can you drink before skydiving? No – it’s illegal. There is no tolerance for impairment when it comes to skydiving, both culturally and legally. It is against the law to take a drink eight hours or less before you conduct a skydive. Even then, most skydivers partner this rule with the strong suggestion of not drinking alcohol or doing drugs long before the eight hour cut-off. It’s just not worth it! Best case, you feel super icky. Worst case, you make poor decisions while impaired.  

• Skydiving With Disabilities & Special Considerations
  
  People who are differently-abled go skydiving all the time! We are grateful that tandem skydiving equipment manufacturers have prioritized accessibility within the sport and crafted harnesses to fit unique physical and mental needs. If you have a disability or unique medical consideration, please reach out to your dropzone and ask if they have the means to accommodate you. Chances are, they can! 

Are There More Restrictions For Solo Skydivers? 

Generally, yes. Although tandem skydivers play a crucial role in a skydive, it’s much more intense for solo skydivers. When someone does a tandem skydive, they have a professional skydiving instructor strapped to them to launch from the plane, maintain stability in freefall, deploy, steer, and land the parachute – it’s a lot! 

When someone skydives solo, these responsibilities are theirs and theirs alone. The solo skydiver’s physical health and fitness needs to be at a standard where they can safely and confidently conduct every step of the skydive. 

Unsure If You Fit The Bill? 

It’s all good – take a deep breath! Jumping out of an airplane for the first time is intimidating, and when hyper-specific skydiving requirements are added into the mix, it can leave you feeling anxious. 

That said – we are skydiving professionals, not medical professionals, and we never want to give unsound advice. You know yourself best. If you feel like skydiving is in your cards but want some extra reassurance, get a green light from your doctor. 

Have more questions when it comes to the skydiving side of things? Give us a call! And when you’re ready to take the leap, book your jump! We can’t wait for you to experience the freedom of human flight. Blue skies!