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Arthritis, fibromyalgia & fused ankles: fitness fins

shinfin^TM fins have given Annie 15 years of joyous fitness swimming, helping her cope with mobility issues fom severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and both ankles fused. This is because the fins lift her lower body horizontal to increase buoyancy and reduce drag. Most important for Annie, they improve her kick efficiency and help her to maintain leg strength. Plus, they achieve all this without aggravating her fused ankles and dodgy feet, because they strap above her ankles. Strong and durable, her first pair of fins still work and only look worn, after 15 years of regular use.

Annie’s review from Castlemaine, Australia

“Both of my ankles are surgically fused due to severe arthritis. Having lost my natural kicking motion, I had to rely on a pull buoy to maintain lower body buoyancy and reduce drag. I immediately saw how they’d help me. With the fins, I’m able to produce an efficient kick and maintain some degree of leg strength, without upsetting my dodgy ankles and feet. I’m enormously grateful to you Marc. The fins have given me fifteen years of joyous swimming and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon!“
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Triathlon training: bilateral below knee amputee

Hannah really loves her shinfin^TM fins for triathlon training, as a bilateral below knee amputee. She mainly swims freestyle in open water and pools. She finds that these fins give her a better workout because they lift her body horizontal and support a strong stroke balance. Furthermore, she finds that these fins improve her swimming form, which enters her muscle memory and so transfers to her swimming without fins in triathlon competitions. A paralympic athlete recommended shinfin^TM fins to her and they have impressed her coaches as well. So now Hannah recommends them to other amputees too.

shinfin^TM fins for triathlon training on bilateral below knee amputee

Lee’s review from Coralville, USA

“My daughter is a bilateral below knee amputee who competes in triathlons. She loves the shinfin^TM fins. They have really helped her with improving her form and getting a better workout. Her coaches are very impressed with her fins and we have recommended them to other amputees that we know. She definitely feels that she is a stronger, better swimmer now. Even when she is not wearing them. Another paralympic athlete who is an amputee, recommended the shinfin^TM fins to Hannah.”
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10 years of fitness: freestyle & backstroke fins

For 10 years, Gary has been loving his shinfin^TM fins for pool fitness, mainly freestyle and backstroke, swimming at least 75% of the days. Swimming in both salt and chlorinated pools, he finds the fins strengthen his lower back and improve his kicking technique, which continues even when he is swimming without the fins. This is because the fins encourage him to kick from his hips. Plus, they don’t hurt his ankles like regular foot flippers. Gary varies his fitness routines, sometimes using a kickboard, snorkel and hand paddles. He also uses them for water walking exercises, walking backwards wearing his fins to strengthen his back. He has just replaced his straps and is now looking forward to another 10 years or more with his fins.

10 years of swim fitness with shinfin^TM fins for freestyle and backstroke

Gary’s review from Central Coast, Australia

“As the months went by I found my kicking style improving with every swim. Now I just love them. When I swim without them, I notice that my kicking technique is much better than most. Certainly no ankle problems like most flippers. I also have a lower back problem and found that the shinfin^TM fins really help strengthen my lower back.”

I have just had to replace the straps after 10 years’ use. While I didn’t swim every single day of those 10 years, I can guarantee that I swam at least 75% of the days in those 10 years. I highly recommend this product for any type of swimmer. Also, correspondence with Marc is, and always has been, exceptional. Anyway that’s all for me and I hope that you enjoy your shinfin^TM fins as much as I have. I hope to get as much joy and fitness out of them for another 10 years or more.”
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Weight loss rehabilitation fins: below knee amputee

Tim swims freestyle with shinfin^TM fins for rehabilitation and weight loss, to get the best workout to recover his fitness, following his below knee amputation. His fins have helped him lose a tremendous amount of weight. They have improved his hip abduction too. This is because his strong, lightweight shinfin^TM fins are powered from his hips, using the stronger muscles in his thighs, buttocks and torso.

Tim’s review from Rifle, USA

“Over the past year, I have been swimming a lot for rehabilitation after having a BK (below knee) amputation on my right leg. I am swimming four miles a week at a recreation center here in Colorado. This regimen is the best way to get back in shape for an amputee! I have lost a tremendous amount of weight swimming. And the shinfin^TM fins help with hip abduction as well! I am currently swimming freestyle. Thanks again, and I will stay in touch.”
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Symes foot amputation: team training fins

Following a Symes amputation of his foot, Harry uses his shinfin^TM fin for training sessions with his swim team. This helps him to swim faster and develop his thigh muscles. This is because shinfin™ fins guide him to kick from his hips. So they encouage proper streamlined swimming kicks for freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Even with amputations, it is usually best to wear a pair of shinfin^TM fins for a proper balanced stroke.

Brenda’s review from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

“My 12 year old grandson had a Symes amputation due to a road traffic accident 18 months ago. He has been training with our local swim team. He is as fast and even faster than some of his peers, with or without his shinfin^TM fin, but needs the shinfin^TM fin for his thigh muscle development.”
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Feet disabilities: para-swim training fins

Owen, with disabilities in both feet, has been para-swim training with his shinfin^TM fins for about five years. They adjust to fit on his legs. He has been so successful, that he has reached number one UK rankings in his para-classification. These include 50 metres freestyle, 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres breastroke. He is also captain of the University of Nottingham swimming team and on the England Para-swimming Talent Development squad. Owen finds shinfin^TM fins extremely helpful for improving his kick action because they lift his thighs and body horizontal. This gives him the best swimming style. Furthermore, he finds them extremely helpful for improving his leg strength because they encourage proper kick power from his hips.

Owen’s review from Nottingham, UK

“shinfin^TM fins have been extremely helpful in helping improve my kick action and leg strength, letting me participate in sessions I previously wasn’t able to.”

Mark (father): “So, thank you. The fins have been really effective and they allow Owen to train with able-bodied swimmers. We purchased two pairs of shinfin^TM fins and Owen hasn’t looked back since. Now when kicking drills are ordered in training, he can match the able-bodied swimmers and the session is no longer an exercise in disheartening futility!”

Champion para-swimmer wearing shinfin^TM fins
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Residual limb water exercise fin

Rachel finds her shinfin^TM fins great for moving better in the water, and for exercising her residual limb to build strength ready for using a prosthetic. She likes wearing one fin on her below knee amputation stump and kicking holding a float in front of her. Kicking with just her residual limb ensures that it does all the work. Furthermore, she finds this technique also builds her core strength because her core strength stops her rotating in the water. When she tried kicking without her shinfin^TM fin, she found she didn’t seem to move anywhere! Later, she also started using her shinfin^TM fin for front crawl, enjoying going faster. She plans to experiment wearing two shinfin^TM fins in the pool, and also to swim in the sea.

Rachel’s tibia is slightly protruding at the end of her stump. So she wears a modified diving sock to pad her stump, to stop it rubbing on the fin. Padding options include stump socks, neoprene knee supports and sleeves, wetsuits, and sleeves cut from wetsuit legs, arms and socks.

Rachel’s review from Oxford, UK

“I’ve been enjoying using the shinfin^TM fin, which has enabled me to exercise my residual limb more and to move better in the water. So I wanted to find a way to exercise my residual limb, by increasing it’s resistance in the water, to maintain and build strength ready for using a prosthetic. Swimming with a float, leaving my healthy leg floating in the water, so my residual limb has to do all of the work. Initially, I tried doing this without a shinfin^TM fin, but I didn’t seem to move anywhere!”

“You recommend wearing shinfin^TM fins on both legs. I haven’t done this yet, because I specifically wanted to work my residual limb really hard. Also, I find when swimming with just one shinfin^TM fin, that I am using my core strength to stop me rotating in the water, which is also very useful exercise!”

6 months later: “I’m getting on really well with the fin. I still only wear one and I mainly use it to exercise my residual limb, by swimming with a float and only using that leg. I’ve started doing a few lengths front crawl and I enjoy being able to go faster. I’m slowly increasing the number of lengths I do with the fin. It’s a great product and I’m really glad I found it.”
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Swim fin changed my life: below knee amputee

Tracy is a below knee amputee whose shinfin^TM swim fin has changed her life. She absolutely loves the improvement in her swimming style and the increase in speed. What’s more, her leg muscles, balance and mobility have all improved too. This is because shinfin^TM fins encourage her to kick from her hips, strengthening the muscles in her thighs, buttocks and torso. They also encourage constant speed throughout her stroke. So Tracy swims about a mile most days, summer and winter.

Tracy’s review from Cedar Rapids, USA

“Thank you swim fin! I’m a below the knee amputee and use your fin just about every day. It’s made a difference in my mobility. The fin has helped my leg (Stella) develop muscle a lot faster than just walking. My balance has improved 300%. I recommended trying the fin out! You’ll be surprised at the results and it happens quickly. I swim a mile just about every day and my time improved by 8 minutes. In just a month!!!”

One shinfin^TM fin changed her life: below knee amputee
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Stronger muscles, better butterfly: pool & sea fins

For many years, shinfin^TM fins have helped to give Alona a better butterfly stroke and stronger muscles in her buttocks, stomach and legs, for improved swim technique in the pool and sea. This is because they encourage her to kick from her hips to give her a better swim style. Alona is also a Pilates instructor and there was some discussion about wearing shinfin^TM fins on the arms for exercises to strengthen the upper body.

Alona’s review from Jerusalem, Israel

“Thank you for your great innovation! I am very happy with my shinfin^TM fins, and I also get a lot of attention when I swim with them in the pool. I love how I can swim the butterfly better now! And I also love how they help me strengthen my buttocks and stomach too, as well as my legs!”

5 years later: “I use the fins mostly in the swimming pool and it is great! At my last vacation in Greece, I took them with me to swim at the sea. Using the fins helped me to improve my butterfly style and strengthen my middle section. I just love them! Thank you Marc for inventing them! Thanks for being so dedicated to your customers!!!”
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Foot drop & peripheral neuropathy exercise fins

Louise finds shinfin^TM fins very helpful for her swim exercise, having peripheral neuropathy, foot drop and severe lower leg weakness. The fins allow her to swim through the water so much more easily because they promote a horizontal body position and lift her legs horizontal and streamlined too. Also, the fins encourage her to kick from her hips and help her to strengthen her torso, buttocks and thigh muscles. With weaker fingers due to her peripheral neuropathy, an alternative strapping method for less finger strength can help.

Louise’s review from Kiama Downs, Australia

“I’ve found the fins very helpful, although I still haven’t mastered adjusting the straps properly. My hands are also affected by peripheral neuropathy, so that may make it harder too. I have quite severe lower leg weakness and foot drop. The fins allow me to get through the water so much more easily. So I can get the exercise I need.”
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