Mike’s reviews, progressively over three years, show how shinfinTM fins help his rehabilitation from lumbar back surgery, with much less pain in his ankles, knees and back. Initially he could not swim at all, due to the residual back pain from his back surgery, ten years prior. However, his shinfinTM fins give him such a good workout to strengthen his muscles in his thighs, buttocks, trunk, core and lumbar back. Such a good workout, in fact, that he became able to swim 1500 m of freestyle without pain. Most importantly, no more back pain and hence no further back surgery required. So Mike is an ecstatic customer!
Mike’s review from Cobalt, Canada
After 2 months
“My knees are feeling better, as I’m getting more power in my legs. And my ankles couldn’t be happier.”
“They give me a great workout, especially the thighs and the entire trunk area. Which is a pleasant surprise, as I’m always trying to increase my strength in my lumbar, abdominal and buttocks area. I’m swimming twice a week for about 45 minutes each time. So yes, I like them a lot. And yes, they are just what I need for my strength training.”
After 2 years
“The fins are just great. I have increased my core and thigh strength tremendously. I have been using them for two years now, twice a week, doing 750 m with the fins and 750 m without.”
“Two years ago I couldn’t even do the front crawl due to my degenerative disc problem in my lower back. I had spinal discectomy surgery at the L3-L4 level years ago. Now I do 1500 m two times a week. Need I say any more!”
“I used to think that I was inevitably just going to have to live with my back pain or eventually go back under the knife. Like it was always in the back of my mind that nothing would get me over the hump in my rehabilitation.”
“Well, I have found the solution in these shinfinTM fins. Thanks again Marc.”
Mike’s review: Rehabilitation fins for less ankle, knee & back pain
“I have been swimming regularly for the past ten years to keep myself in shape after back surgery (L3-L4 discectomy). Swimming is a great exercise for the back. A few years ago, I developed a kneecap tracking problem. My orthopedic doctor recommended strengthening my thighs to reduce the stress on my knees.”
“So I bought some regular speedo training fins and have been using them religiously for the past year or so. But now that my legs are getting stronger, and my knees feel much better as a result, I’ve now developed ankle fatigue and pain, which really annoys me.”
“So I started to surf the internet for a solution. I was looking at the Zip fin, Zoomers and split fins but they are all sort of the same. Yesterday on my way home from the pool, with my ankles burning a little after my workout, I thought man it would be nice if I could get something to attach to my shins to eliminate the heavy stress on my ankles. So I did a search on the net and Bingo! I found you guys. I hope they work for me because I LOVE to swim.”
Reply
Yes, we certainly hear a lot of complaints about foot fins similar to yours, such as ankle fatigue and pain etc. So I’m not surprised at all with your experience.
You are right, despite foot fins coming in many different shapes and sizes they are “all sort of the same”, as you say. The power is transmitted onto the foot and through the ankle joint, so there is no escaping that with a foot fin.
Mike (after 2 months)
“They give me a great workout, especially the thighs and the entire trunk area. Which is a pleasant surprise, as I’m always trying to increase my strength in my lumbar, abdominal and buttocks area. I’m swimming twice a week for about 45 minutes each time. So yes, I like them a lot. And yes, they are just what I need for my strength training.”
Reply
Many thanks for your update. I’d be interested to hear how you feel your back pain, ankle strain, knee pain and kneecap tracking, fitness and swimming technique have progressed over the last couple of months of rehabilitation with the fins. Also, have you noticed an improvement in your “no-fins” swimming technique and streamlining too?
Mike
“As for one, I’m back doing the front crawl steadily with more authority now. Before, my back and trunk muscles weren’t strong enough to allow me to just let loose. Not quite perfect yet but I’ve noticed a big difference in my lumbar and trunk stability. A very nice surprise.”
“My knees are feeling better, as I’m getting more power in my legs. And my ankles couldn’t be happier.”
“I can’t wait to get to the pool now, as I’m seeing results quite quickly.”
Reply
Sounds like you are going great and getting the right benefits. Keep it up. You’re probably finding that you can lengthen your stroke and improve your breathing rhythm too.
Mike (after 2 years)
“I just love my fins! Doing 1500 m, 2 times a week.”
Reply
Good to hear from you again and glad to hear that you still love your shinfinTM fins. So how is your ankle, knee and back pain rehabilitation? How is your swim technique in your 1500 m? I’d be very interested to hear how you have been going over the last couple of years since you got your fins.
Mike (after 2 years)
“The fins are just fabulous. My back is way, way better, and my knee is pretty much normal now. I’m even doing 5 km of Nordic Walking now, twice a week. The biggest thing that I have noticed over the last, what is it almost two years, is the unbelievable improvement in my core strength.”
“I do 750 m with the fins on and 750 m with the fins off (2 times a week). Now when I don’t have my fins on I just seem to fly. It’s just that I’m so much stronger all over including back, buttocks and thighs. Just an overall heightened condition. Very, very happy and in very, very good shape.”
“Before I got these fins, I was using the slipper foot fin type. Although I had some success with those, you can’t use them long term as your ankles will give out.”
“I used to think that I was inevitably just going to have to live with my back pain or eventually go back under the knife. Like it was always in the back of my mind that nothing would get me over the hump in my rehabilitation.”
“Well, I have found the solution in these shinfinTM fins. Thanks again Marc.”
Reply
Thank you for your glowing report Mike. I’m really happy to hear that they have helped you so much. We actually get a lot of feedback like this.
The strengthening of the core back muscles is particularly interesting. Similar, I think, to the muscles that Pilates exercises focus on. As is the help that shinfinTM fins provide for recovery from knee injury and operations too. Quite a few people have mentioned these points.
Mike
“If you would like to use my comments go ahead. Maybe someone else with back problems can get some relief by trying the shinfinTM fins too.”
“Yes, you are right about your comparison to Pilates core strengthening. I also do some floor exercises. My physiotherapist teaches some Pilates and she taught me a few Pilates based abdominal exercises. Very important to get the core strong and keep it that way.”
Reply
Thank you for your kind permission. Personal recommendation is very important to help a new product like this along, so I really appreciate it and the shinfinTM word is spreading well. We already have many customers saying that shinfinTM fins help improve their back problems and I would like to emphasise that a bit more on the website, so your feedback will really help thank you.
Mike
“The fins are just great. I have increased my core and thigh strength tremendously. I have been using them for two years now, twice a week, doing 750 m with the fins and 750 m without.”
“Two years ago I couldn’t even do the front crawl due to my degenerative disc problem in my lower back. I had spinal discectomy surgery at the L3-L4 level years ago. Now I do 1500 m two times a week. Need I say any more!”
Reply
I really appreciate you following through like this over a couple of years. I am really pleased that the fins have helped you so much with your lower back.
Mike (after 3 years)
“My fins and swimming are doing really good. My legs are much stronger now. I cut my swimming down to once a week for a while, as I’ve started doing strength training on my legs now. Like leg press and squats, which is something I never thought I would be able to do. But since my legs are stronger, I’m going to really beef them up to protect my knees. I was doing a ton of swimming, so they are starting to call me marathon Mike. The fins work fine.”
Reply
G’day marathon Mike, great to hear from you again, and great that you are still doing so well with your fins and swimming. It is very interesting to hear how you have progressed with your fins and injury recovery over the last three years. All the best.
Conclusion
shinfinTM fins can help you with lumbar back surgery rehabilitation, with much less back pain, knee pain and ankle strain. Of course, consult with your doctor first.
They can help you even if you can’t swim much due to residual back pain from your back surgery. shinfinTM fins will give you a good workout to strengthen your muscles in your thighs, buttocks, trunk, core and lumbar back. So that, over time, you may be able to swim longer distances with much less pain. Perhaps your back pain may reduce so much that no further back surgery is required.
This other review illustrates how they reduce arm paddling and so reduce back pain when kneeboarding and surfing. You may also be interested in these sample fin reviews.