Freestyle

Freestyle fin reviews

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Double below knee amputee: front & back swimming fins


shinfinTM fins have helped Alison, a double below knee amputee, to build her confidence swimming on her front and back, in ways she never imagined. The fins are so adjustable and flexible to fit her thin, skinny lower legs without rotating or slipping. Made from strong polyurethane, the fins are tough enough to bend when she pushes off from the pool wall with her leg stumps. She uses the fins to help strengthen her muscles in the lower half of her body. With the fins, she can even swim legs only, without using her arms.

Alison’s review from High Wycome, UK

“Thank you for all your help and thank you for getting me back into something I love. The shinfinTM fins are the best purchase I have ever made. It’s the first time I have ever been able to swim without using my arms. They have helped to build my confidence in ways I never imagined. I have used them both for on my front and back. I’m finding it perfect with what they’re designed for. There are not enough words to explain how thankful I am and I can’t wait to get more people ordering them. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

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Osteonecrosis aquatic therapy exercise fins


Martin benefits from shinfinTM fins for standing and walking leg exercise work-outs, as part of his aquatic therapy for osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis, bone infarction). So he uses them as recommended by his physiotherapist. He opens and closes his hips and strengthens his legs by swinging them forward, backward and sideways. Furthermore, for sideways kicking, he adjusts the fins around to the sides of his legs. He also finds the extra speed and straighter legs of shinfinTM fins for freestyle kicks more psychologically rewarding.

Martin’s review from Hong Kong

“The shinfinTM product has been working well for me. Also using it for aquatic therapy. Doing exercises standing in the pool with the fins, gives more resistance and more of a work-out for strengthening. Most of the exercises have been about swinging the legs forward, backward, sideways, and doing opening and closing of the hip.”

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Freestyle, butterfly & backstroke: workout fins


Like many people, Ryan gets a good workout with his shinfinTM fins, finding them great for freestyle, butterfly and backstroke. This is because their design matches the swimming style of all three strokes. In particular, their natural design encourages him to kick from his hips which gives him a great workout and strengthens the proper kicking technique for all three strokes. What’s more, this helps him to achieve smoother swimming strokes with less drag. That is why he doesn’t get winded as much.

Ryan’s review from Doha, Qatar

“I’ve been using them quite a bit. Freestyle is my worst stroke. Breaststroke is my best, and the one I rest with. They don’t work for breaststroke. But for freestyle, butterfly and backstroke they are great. I am enjoying them quite a bit. Allows me to get a good workout without being totally winded. Gotta run … great product.”

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After knee replacement: physical therapy fins


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!”

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Below knee amputee rehabilitation training fins


Elle’, a below knee amputee, really benefits from shinfinTM fins for her rehabilitation, pool training and open water ocean swimming. They give her a smooth, level, relaxed and balanced stroke. What’s more, all without strain or calf cramps. She uses them for freestyle and backstroke, with and without a kickboard. The fin on her stump feels like a foot to her, because it gives a full workout of her amputated leg. Thus she fully strengthens her legs, stomach and back muscles. Not only for her swimming, but also for stronger walking with her prosthesis. Elle’ kindly shares her detailed story below, with photos and videos, so other amputees will benefit from shinfinTM fins too.

Elle’s review from San Clemente, USA

“Both legs are kicking evenly and my amputated leg is getting the full benefits of the workout. No more calf cramps. I found it felt like I have a foot. I am very aware of both legs working fully, rather than relying more on the remaining foot. I’m able to relax into my stroke, which is balanced, even and smooth. Enables me to completely engage my residual limb without stress or strain. And in turn build strength needed for wearing a prosthesis.”

“The open water swimming in the past days has been wonderful! I did not have rehabilitation after my amputation and swimming with the shinfinTM fins has been the best thing I could have ever found! I can feel my stomach and back work equally now. And I find my body position is much easier to keep level in the water.”

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Below knee transtibial amputation fins


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!”

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No Achilles pain or calf cramps: swim training fins


Kate loves using her shinfinTM fins for swim training, even more because they avoid the Achilles pain and calf cramps caused by conventional fins. She enjoys them for full stroke freestyle and backstroke and also for kick exercise drills, with and without a kickboard. They give her many swim training benefits, with comfort too.

Kate’s review from Perth, Australia

“I love using them. Overall, I’m really happy with the fins and I get asked about them every time I swim! I use the fins for full stroke freestyle and backstroke. And for drills, with and without a kickboard. I have a chronic Achilles problem and was getting very frustrated with my swim training as conventional fins were out of the question. Just one kick and my calf would cramp up.”

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After knee replacement: less back & knee pain fins


shinfinTM fins help Nelly rehabilitate after knee replacement surgery, by strengthening her muscles below her waist, with less knee pain and less back pain. This is because they encourage a streamlined kick with smooth delivery of power from her thighs and torso, with only a little knee-bend. She uses them to swim freestyle (front crawl) and backstroke (back crawl).

Nelly’s review from Langenselbold, Germany

 “After knee replacement surgery, I would like to strengthen my muscles below the waist, especially the legs, so that I can walk longer and improve my swimming style (front crawl and back crawl). Since the operation, I can no longer do any twisting moves with my left leg when swimming.”

3 months later. “I am doing well with my fins and they have helped to strengthen the muscles below my waist. I am experiencing less pain in the back and the knees – problem areas up to now. Certainly I can confirm what your other customers have been saying.”

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Proper stroke & breathing & position: triathlon training fins


Triathlon training with shinfinTM fins streamlines Charles’ body position, balances his breathing, lengthens his stroke and properly uses the larger muscles in his glutes. This all happens because shinfinTM fins lift his body more horizontal, train more powerful kicking from his hips and give him correct freestyle timing. Most importantly, this transfers to give him a faster, smoother and more efficient freestyle technique.

Charles’ review from Queens, USA

“In a nutshell, I luv em! My shinfinTM fins recruit the larger muscle groups in my glutes. So I am now using less energy for the same amount of distance. They assist me in developing a feel for proper body position in the water. I was able to stretch out and really get a feel of my stroke. So I could definitely feel a better balance as far as my breathing goes. Which in turn encourages me to lengthen my stroke. WAY COOL! I am definitely improving. I was able to keep proper form for a longer period of time. Thanks for such an innovative product.”

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Streamlined body & stronger kick: competitive Masters fins


Two main benefits that shinfinTM fins give Paraic, are a more streamlined body position and a more efficient stronger kick. Most importantly, these benefits transfer to give him a better swim style without fins too. So he uses them for his Masters swimming training and swim technique improvement. He also bought a second pair for another Masters swimmer.

Paraic’s review from Portmarnock, Ireland

“I’m using them for competitive Masters swimming. I find my body position has improved significantly when swimming freestyle! Giving a more streamlined position, when I take off the fins I feel my leg kick is stronger and more efficient.”

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