Skydiving Medical Restrictions

At Skydive Carolina, we believe skydiving is for everybody. Whether you’re (at least) 18 or 88 and in generally good health, our hope for all of our guests is that not even the sky is the limit. Sometimes, though, we humans have a fair bit going on under the hood – and that means we get a variety of questions about skydiving medical restrictions. These are the top three:

• Can you skydive with high blood pressure?
• Can you skydive with a heart condition?
• What about skydiving with back problems?

If you have reason to be asking these and other health-related questions, then the short answer is to contact your doctor and make sure you have the green light before making a jump. We know all about skydiving, but we are definitely not medical practitioners.

Here’s a little food for thought for you and your doctor when considering skydiving with a medical condition.

Think about your health parameters and skydiving as you would any other physically demanding athletic activity … and then layer in the intensity that comes with flying through the sky at 120 mph. Skydiving isn’t labeled an extreme sport for nothing.

If concerns around your high blood pressure, a heart condition, back/knee/hip pain … or your weight, vision or hearing loss, illness or disability … would keep you from another extreme sport, then skydiving may not be a healthy choice for you.

The reality, though, is that it’s rare for a medical condition to keep someone glued to the ground. Generally speaking, health issues that are well managed don’t pose an obstacle.

Bottom line: chat with your doctor before you book.

The worldwide skydiving community is known for being welcoming, encouraging and empowering. We’re a tenacious bunch who will stop at almost nothing to bring our grand visions to life, and we’re keen to lend a hand to those who need a little help giving light to their own.

Case in point, our sport includes solo jumpers who are amputees, have low vision and are blind, are hard of hearing and deaf, and are paralyzed and paraplegic. And the gift of flight can be available to tandem students whose lives feature the same perceived limitations.

Our team of professional instructors has supported people of varying abilities to experience the life-altering sensations of freefall and canopy flight. If you have a particular need, connect with us directly so we can discuss your personal situation and what accommodations might be necessary to give you wings.

Unfortunately, there’s one hard-line we have to draw regardless of what your doctor says and that’s regarding weight.

Skydiving equipment is built to support people of all shapes and sizes up to a certain weight. To ensure your safety and comfort and that of your instructor, tandem students must weigh less than 225 lbs including the clothing and shoes you’ll wear during your jump.

If you have questions about weight or any other inquiries related to skydiving medical restrictions, get in touch. We’re here to help you seize the day.

Blue skies!

Related Article: How Old do you have to be to Skydive?