Brian has a below knee (transtibial) amputation and shinfinTM fins have worked great for his fitness swimming for many years. He wears one fin in the standard position on his full leg and the other fin on the thigh of his amputated leg (similarly to an above knee amputee). However, please note that most transtibial amputees fit the fin below their knee, if their stump is long enough, because the knee joint improves control of the fin. So the fins give him balanced propulsion and help keep his legs horizontal. They also strengthen his thighs and lower back. Most importantly, this strengthening also helps his walking with a prosthesis. As a prosthetist, Brian has recommended them to many of his patients over the years, as an invaluable aid for transtibial amputees.
Brian’s review from Victoria, Canada
“They work great! I got them for fitness training when I was on the Canadian Paralympic Sailing Team. We swim for an hour, three times a week. I use them for freestyle, backstroke, flutter board and breaststroke; I do the breaststroke with a flutter kick. The shinfinTM fins provide propulsion on my amputated side. They also help to get my legs horizontal in the water. Plus provide resistance to strengthen my thighs and low back. Which helps the biomechanics of walking with a prosthesis. shinfinTM fins are an invaluable aid for transtibial amputees. Keep up the good work!”
Brian’s review: Fins for below knee transtibial amputation
“I swim 3 times a week; 1500 metres each time. I’m a transtibial amputee, so I strap one shinfinTM fin to my thigh, the other to my shin. They work great!”
Reply
Many thanks for your kind explanation. I’m very pleased to hear they work great for you. We get a lot of similarly wonderful feedback from amputees. Sounds like you’ve got a good routine going there. Are you mainly using them for freestyle? Have you also tried them for backstroke and/or fly? I’d be particularly interested to hear how you think they are improving your overall strength and fitness for walking if you get a moment to email me please.
Brian
“I think I’ve had your shinfinTM fins for at least ten years; they were recommended by Janet Dunn. She is the Paralympic Coach for Swimming Canada. I got them for fitness training when I was on the Canadian Paralympic Sailing Team.”
“I am now a retired prosthetist, and swim with the Victoria Crystal Pool “Silver Streaks”! We swim for an hour, three times a week. We have our own coaches and reserved lanes.”
“Over the years I have recommended them to many of my patients; hopefully they bought some.”
“I use them for freestyle, backstroke, flutter board and breaststroke; I do the breaststroke with a flutter kick.”
“The shinfinTM fins provide propulsion on my amputated side. One day I forgot them but tried to swim anyways. I got into the pool with the flutter board and started kicking. I looked up, and I had hardly moved away from the wall!”
“They also help to get my legs horizontal in the water. Plus provide resistance to strengthen my thighs and low back. Which helps the biomechanics of walking with a prosthesis.”
“shinfinTM fins are an invaluable aid for transtibial amputees. Keep up the good work!”
Reply
Thank you for your very interesting reply Brian. I’m glad I asked! Great to hear that they also help you with your walking. We get a lot of great feedback like that, and the other things you mention.
Have you also tried breaststroke with a fly kick? That is sometimes used in training, as you may be aware.
Brian
“Yes, you can quote me.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind permission Brian. Personal recommendation is very important to help a new product like this along, so I really appreciate it.
Conclusion
If you have a below knee (transtibial) amputation, you will find that shinfinTM fins work very well for fitness swimming and other water activities. Because the knee joint helps to control the fin, most transtibial amputees fit the fin below their knee if their stump is long enough. Otherwise you can fit the fin on your thigh, similarly to an above knee amputee. In both cases, the fins give you more balanced propulsion and help keep your legs horizontal. They also strengthen your thighs and lower back. Most importantly, this strengthening also helps your walking with a prosthesis.
Another review shows how they help a below knee amputee improve his freestyle and butterfly. A further review shows how they help a foot amputee learn to swim.