With fused ankles and clubbed feet due to Arthrogryposis, Elise really enjoys her shinfinTM fins for fitness swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. She positions them on her legs to get the maximum benefits. In particular, they build her muscle mass so her legs and feet have much more strength and stamina. This is because they get power from her hips, using the larger muscles in her thighs, buttocks, stomach and torso. In addition, she wears them to walk safely to and from the water. All in contrast to normal flippers, which fall off her feet and are just not safe for her to wear.
Elise’s review from Stanmore, Australia
“Thank you shinfinTM. You have given me access to something that not only adds enjoyment to my swimming, snorkeling and diving but is helping to improve my overall health and well-being. It is actually helping me build muscle mass and making my legs and feet capable of doing much more in terms of strength and stamina. My ankles were surgically fused. I was born with Arthrogryposis which causes ‘clubbed feet’. So I have never been able to use normal flippers before. So I do need to offer my sincere thanks for making such a great product. I have recommended them to everyone who has asked ‘ooh where did you get those??’ Able bodied and not-so-able bodied people are jealous that I have a pair of flippers that not only look cool but they are so functional.”
Elise’s review: Fins for fused ankles & clubbed feet due to Arthrogryposis
“I was born with Arthrogryposis which causes ‘clubbed feet’. So I have never been able to use normal flippers before. I love the freedom of movement and exercise I get with swimming, so I am looking forward to trying your shinfinTM fins very much!!”
Elise
“I have been meaning to get in touch just to let you know how much I have enjoyed my shinfinTM fins over the summer.”
Arthrogryposis & clubbed feet
“I was born with Arthrogryposis and I was not meant to walk unaided. Along with surgeries and physical therapy, I was introduced to the pool as a baby. The freedom of movement in the water allowed me to build on my muscles and joints, and I believe it was a crucial part in my eventually walking.”
Fused ankles
“My legs and feet have the most severe joint contractures and muscle weakness. I am still able to walk and kick underwater too. But my ankles were surgically fused. So my feet were next to useless at providing any kind of forward motion when swimming. Normal flippers simply fall off my feet and they are just not safe for me to wear without a serious fear of injuring myself further with pulled or twisted muscles. I just added wearing flippers to the list of things ‘I just can’t do’. I continued to swim and snorkel. Treading water using just my hands, swimming one handed to take photos or do anything, really.”
And then shinfinTM fins!
“And then I saw your product on television! Using flippers was just so far from my mind for so long. But I couldn’t believe I had never heard of these before! Since buying my pair, I have worked out the best positioning for each leg to get the most from them. I can use both my hands to do things, now that I feel myself being held up by MY OWN FEET in FLIPPERS. I can wear them safely to and from the water, I use them at the local pool to swim laps and I have been trying to do more and more distance using just my flippers and a kickboard. It is actually helping me build muscle mass and making my legs and feet capable of doing much more in terms of strength and stamina.”
“So I do need to offer my sincere thanks for making such a great product. I have recommended them to everyone who has asked ‘ooh where did you get those??’ Able bodied and not-so-able bodied people are jealous that I have a pair of flippers that not only look cool but they are so functional. It’s a wonder nothing like this has ever come along before.”
“Thank you shinfinTM. You have given me access to something that not only adds enjoyment to my swimming, snorkeling and diving but is helping to improve my overall health and well-being. I think I might have to buy another pair!”
Reply
Many thanks for your reply. That is truly wonderful to hear. I would be particularly interested in hearing how you progress as the weeks go on regarding building muscle mass and stamina, and how your joint movement and range improves, whenever you get a moment to email me. Then hopefully I can give you some pointers to get even more from your fins.
Have you tried swimming backstroke? Have you tried using them for other aqua aerobics exercises? Perhaps you’ll find some ideas there. Would you mind if I put some extracts from your emails on the website? I really like the way you have written and I think it would be useful for other people to read what you have said.
And thank you for spreading the shinfinTM word. Personal recommendation is the best thing for helping a new idea like this along, so I really appreciate it.
Elise
“I will keep you updated on my progress. Thank you for the links and ideas too!”
“Of course I would be happy for you to use my feedback on your website, so please feel free. I agree that hearing someone else’s personal experience goes a long way towards making you feel confident to test something new out.”
Reply
Thank you, I look forward to hearing how you progress. And thank you for your kind permission. The shinfinTM word is spreading well thanks to people like you. There are many thousands of pairs out in the world now. All the best.
Conclusion
If you have fused ankles and/or clubbed feet (e.g. due to Arthrogryposis) you will particularly enjoy shinfinTM fins for many water activities, from fitness swimming to snorkeling and scuba diving. You can position them on your legs to get the maximum benefits. In particular, they help you build muscle mass to increase the strength and stamina of your legs and feet. This is because they get power from your hips, using the larger muscles in your thighs, buttocks, stomach and torso. In addition, your feet are free so can wear them to walk safely to and from the water.
Here is another review by someone finding the fins wonderful with a club foot and a below knee amputation. In fact, you can enjoy shinfinTM fins with many disabilites. This other review relates to partial foot amputation and sensitive skin from burns. Another review shows how they fit comfortably with severe hammertoes and bunions. A further review shows how they give mobility benefits for hip Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus issues.