Chris finds her shinfinTM fins very comfortable and beneficial for physical therapy after her total knee replacement. In fact, she wishes she had also used them for aquatic therapy exercises before her surgery, to strengthen her hips, quads and glutes. What’s more, they lift her legs higher in the water and give her a stronger freestyle kick, so she swims faster.
Chris’ review from Springfield, USA
“For me the shinfinTM fins are so much more comfortable than the slip on foot fins I was using. In physical therapy, before and also after total knee joint replacement, the therapists stress hip strengthening exercises. So I’m glad I’m using shinfinTM fins now because I feel like your hips get a good workout with them. I’m not a really good swimmer but I notice since I’ve used the shinfinTM fins that I have a much stronger kick in the freestyle. These fins also keep my legs higher in the water. I seem to go a whole bunch faster. Thanks for a great pair of fins!”
Chris’ review: Physical therapy fins after total knee replacement
“Are these fins good for fitness swimming? I just like to swim to keep in shape. I just had knee surgery early September and can now get back to post-surgery exercise.”
“The foot fins I use now, hurt my toes and my calves feel stressed. And they are super hard to get on.”
“Do you think these shinfinTM fins would be good for me? How do I know what size? I wear a women’s size 13 shoe.”
Reply
Yes, these fins are very good for fitness training to keep in shape, as seen in these fitness reviews. As for comfort, I think you will be very pleased, as shinfinTM fins don’t give you toe pain or calf cramps like regular foot flippers.
There is only one size of fin, with an option of longer straps for larger calves. Foot size doesn’t matter at all. The fins should fit you fine. They are very adjustable.
The straps are tough and durable to last many years if you look after them, so you can decide if you need spare straps.
Chris
“Thank you, Marc. I can’t wait to try them out. Received them yesterday.”
Reply
Thanks for letting me know they arrived Chris. Any questions just ask, I am here to help.
Chris
“I like the fins. I need to work on getting them on a little faster. But I don’t mind because they are so much better than what I had. I’m not a good swimmer. I had total knee replacement on the left knee in September and am afraid to do the breaststroke anymore. So I’m making myself do more freestyle. (I never really learned the freestyle.) So I mainly swim freestyle and backstroke. I do about 36 laps. I’ve used the fins about 4 times so far. I am so glad I don’t have to use my other ones, which were sort of slip-on foot fins with an opening at the toes and which hurt my toes.”
“I tried to loosen up one of the straps and I now think I shouldn’t do that. The one time I forgot that you fasten at the inside opening and I used the outside opening but they still seemed to work OK. I’m going to watch the video some more and read the instructions more.”
“I’m glad I got them. I always get asked about them at the pool where I swim and I tell people how to find your website and how much I like them. Appreciate your getting back to me and I may get back to you if I have further questions. Thank you.”
Reply
Many thanks for your reply Chris. I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your fins and trust you are getting the benefits from them for your freestyle. And many thanks for helping to spread the word about shinfinTM fins. That really helps and I do appreciate it.
I’m sorry the straps aren’t as intuitive as I’d like but I think I can help you. I designed them to fit a wide range of leg sizes/shapes securely, to stretch with muscle expansion and with no extra buckles/Velcro to jam or release unexpectedly. The straps usually get easier with practice. Following the tips we sent with the fins and by email, each fin usually takes about 30 seconds to put on, 10 seconds to take off, and 10 seconds to tighten or loosen whilst wearing the fins. If you still have difficulties after checking through these fitting tips, please let me know what you still find difficult so I can help you better.
Chris
“Thank you so much for these tips, which I will be sure and follow. Again, the fins are great and I’m glad I got them.”
Reply
Many thanks for your reply Chris. Are you finding the straps are getting easier with practice? Please let me know how you go.
Can I ask a favour please? Would you mind if I put some extracts from your emails on the web site? I like the way you have written and I think it would be useful for other people with a total knee replacement, to read what you have said.
Any more questions just ask, I am here to help.
Chris
“Sorry to get back to you so late. Sure, you can use my comments and I appreciate your only using my first name. I’m 62, in case that helps to let people know that, too.”
“I really think the fins help strengthen the hips because I feel like the force sort of comes from the hip. In physical therapy, before and also after total knee joint replacement, the therapists stress hip strengthening exercises. So I’m glad I’m using shinfinTM fins now because I feel like your hips get a good workout with them.”
“I haven’t been to the pool in a couple of weeks but I use the fins every time I go. Last time I was there, the swimmer in the lane next to mine noticed the fins. I explained how much better they work because they don’t have to fit your foot since they fasten to the shin and also how comfortable they are. I gave him the website and the name of the fins. Thank you.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind permission Chris. Great to hear you are getting a good workout. Personal recommendation is very important to help a new product like this along, so I really appreciate it.
Chris
“Just wanted to tell you again how great these fins are! Today I tried soaking them before I went to the pool. So when I got to the pool and started fastening them, they were even easier and faster to fasten and get on. The more I use them, the easier they are to get on and I can much more easily tighten them snug enough now so they work better for me. Once the straps are good and wet they are easy to manipulate. Before I was actually not tightening them quite enough.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind reply Chris. That’s great that you are getting them on easier now. Are they giving good exercise and strengthening to your muscles after your total knee replacement, without hurting your knees at all?
Chris
Stronger quads and glutes
“If I had known about shinfinTM fins before my total knee replacement, I would’ve used them for the several months before surgery when I was doing the presurgical exercises. My doctor advised me that some examples of good presurgical exercises to help strengthen the quads and glutes included swimming, bicycle riding, the elliptical machine, the leg press machine, wall slides and walking. I feel like the shinfinTM fins really work those particular muscles very well. Of course I’d definitely advise anyone to check with their doctor before starting any exercise program prior to a total knee replacement or prior to any surgery for that matter. But for me, since I was already adding more swimming to prepare, I’m sure the shinfinTM fins would’ve been a smart addition to my preparation.”
“Where I work out there’s a pool and there are also exercise machines. So I was going to the gym and using the elliptical machine and the leg press and then after that (or before that) to the pool for laps. I kind of like the pool the best, but I added the gym because of what my doctor advised. Then I also had these sort of isometric type exercises they gave me, which I did at home.”
So much more comfortable
“For me the shinfinTM fins are so much more comfortable than the slip on foot fins I was using. I find they keep getting easier and faster to take on and off. The straps are really durable. I usually do 24 laps (on my stomach going down, on my back to return). I do those with the shinfinTM fins and the kickboard. Then I freestyle with just the shinfinTM fins and no kickboard for another 12.”
Faster, stronger kick with higher legs
“I’m not a really good swimmer but I notice since I’ve used the shinfinTM fins that I have a much stronger kick in the freestyle. These fins also keep my legs higher in the water. I seem to go a whole bunch faster. I know I need to work on the breathing.”
“Now I soak the fins before I go to the pool because the wetter they are the easier they go on.”
“Thanks for a great pair of fins!”
Reply
Thank you for your great description. That will certainly help others in a similar situation to you.
Conclusion
shinfinTM fins are very beneficial and comfortable for physical therapy before and after knee surgery, including total knee replacement. You can use them them for aquatic therapy exercises and aqua aerobics, to strengthen your hips, quads and glutes. Furthermore, they lift your legs higher in the water and give you stronger freestyle, backstroke and butterfly kicks, to swim faster.
These further reviews show how they give you less back and knee pain after knee replacement, beneficial hip therapy and water walking exercises and hydrotherapy recovery from a broken leg.