Andy, a below knee amputee who does triathlon swim training four times a week and is losing weight, finds his shinfinTM fins work really well. With one fin comfortable and secure on his stump and the other fin on his other leg, he finds moving around the pool much easier than with a conventional fin. He feels shinfinTM fins give him real propulsion from both legs, lifting his back end to make him more streamlined and faster. He also feels the fins encourage him to kick naturally from his hips using the stronger muscles in his stomach. What’s more, the fins help him swim much faster with a kickboard too.
Andy’s review from Carnwath, UK
“Swam last night and they worked really well. I’m active but overweight (weight dropping). Took up triathlon a year ago. Swim 4 times a week, 2x coached sessions, 2x endurance. The fin on my foot sat well. Being able to stand on the sole of my foot made moving around the pool (minus my prosthetic) much easier than with a conventional fin. The shinfinTM fin attached to my stump well. I found having the strap crossover in the crook of my knee, comfortable and secure.”
“Swimming gave me real propulsion from both legs. On the good leg it made kicking from the hip and stomach feel most natural. My half leg is finally able to bring something to the party. This in turn raised my back end and made me more streamlined and therefore faster. I also managed to swim with a kickboard at a decent rate. Hope this helps.”
Andy’s review: Triathlon training fins for a below knee amputee
“I recently bought a pair of your shinfinTM fins and am about to try them out at the pool tonight. I’m a below knee amputee and the fin sits on my stump just right. My “good” leg has some swelling and scaring which adds to the girth and means the strap is at its maximum length with very little “tail” showing. Are you able to supply me with a longer strap?”
Reply
Glad to hear that the fin fits on your stump just right.
With the strap length, maybe this suggestion will help you to get a bit more useful length out of your existing strap. Wet the fins and slide the strap a bit through both ankle slots, to give minimum strap length to the outside buckle (the one that you leave done up all the time), and maximum strap length to the inside buckle (the one that you do up each time you put the fins on). Does this help? But you may find that you don’t even need to do that if you follow these tips, keeping the strap crossover point at the narrowest part of your ankle. Please let me know how you go.
You can buy longer straps on the website, if you need them. If you measure around where you would like the fin to go, and it comes to 16 inches (40 cm) or less, then the straps that come with the fins will fit. You can always cut the straps shorter with scissors later, if needed.
Andy
“Thanks, I will give that a go. Swam last night and they worked really well. Back in the pool on Monday for a non-coached session, so I should have more time to experiment.”
Reply
Thanks for letting me know Andy. That’s great to hear. Please let me know how your experiments go. I’m improving the website to have help sections for BKA etc. and any feedback and photos would be really helpful to others if you would like to contribute please. What stump length do you have, measured below your knee-cap?
Andy
“Will report back feedback and pics as I go.”
Reply
Wonderful Andy, thank you. I’ll try to help you to get the best from them too.
Andy
“For shinfinTM feedback, I’ll just spout what comes into my head and you can get me to go into more detail as required. I will get some pics over the next few days. My local swimming pool doesn’t allow cameras at poolside. So swimming shots maybe out but shots of the fin on the stump will be no problem and I guess that’s what you’re looking for. Feel free to use anything I send you on the website.”
Background
“Male, 47 year old, amputee below knee, right leg. Residual stump 15 cm from patella.”
“Active but overweight (weight dropping). Took up triathlon a year ago. Swim 4 times a week, 2x coached sessions, 2x endurance. Part of the coached session involves drills using fins which I have been unable to do well with just one conventional swim fin. Kick drills are also very, very slow and I hardly make any progress.”
Swimming with shinfinTM fins
“Struggled a bit getting the strap tails fed in and tightened but that should improve with practice. The fin on my foot sat well. Being able to stand on the sole of my foot made moving around the pool (minus my prosthetic) much easier than with a conventional fin.”
“The shinfinTM fin attached to my stump well. I found having the strap crossover in the crook of my knee, comfortable and secure. I watched the leading edge but at this stage I don’t think it needs trimming.”
“Swimming gave me real propulsion from both legs. On the good leg it made kicking from the hip and stomach feel most natural. My half leg is finally able to bring something to the party. This in turn raised my back end and made me more streamlined and therefore faster.”
“On the turns the shinfinTM fins do feel a little different and maybe a bit loose (a little like using hand paddles) but once you’ve kicked off and are swimming again, all is back to normal.”
“I also managed to swim with a kickboard at a decent rate.”
“Hope this helps.”
Reply
Many thanks for your reply and for your kind permission. Personal recommendation is very important to help a new product like this along, so I really appreciate it.
Your information is really helpful. It sounds like you have started off very well. It will be really interesting to hear how your muscles and movement range progress as you train, especially for your hip and knee on your half leg.
What kind of turns are you doing? I didn’t quite understand what you meant there and perhaps I can help. Have you tried backstroke and fly as well as freestyle? Are the straps getting easier for you? Here are some extra tips for the straps.
Conclusion
If you are a below knee amputee, you will find shinfinTM fins work really well for triathlon swim training and many other water activities. They can help you get fitter and lose weight. One fin fits comfortably and securely on your stump. The other fin fits in the normal position on your full leg. They also work really well for above knee amputees.
shinfinTM fins will give you real propulsion from both legs, lifting your hips and thighs to help you become more streamlined and faster. You will feel the fins guiding you into a natural kick from your hips using the stronger muscles in your thighs, stomach and torso. The fins will also help you to swim faster with a kickboard and other flotation devices. Furthermore, you will find it much easier to move around the pool compared to wearing a conventional fin.
These other reviews show the fins being used for triathlon training with proper stroke, breathing and body position, and by below knee amputees for strengthening and propulsion and snorkeling. Another review illustrates many aspects of swim training including tumble turns.