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Swim fitness fins reviews

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Through knee amputee: neoprene sleeve under fin


Jane is a through knee amputee who finds it best to wear a neoprene sleeve on her shortened leg and strap her shinfinTM fin over that. This reduces her issues with scar and nerve irritation. She prefers just wearing the one fin on her shortened leg. However, many other above knee amputees and below knee amputees also like to wear their other shinfinTM fin on the shin of their full leg. Most importantly, the fins adjust to fit at all these positions.

Jane’s review from Wilton, USA

“Your suggestion to use a neoprene sleeve has worked well to reduce any issues with scar irritation. Thanks for your idea. They helped me to continue to enjoy swimming. I found using just the one fin on my shortened leg (I’m a through knee amputee) did the trick. Love being back in water again.”

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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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Multiple Sclerosis with waist belt: pool fins


With later stage Multiple Sclerosis (MS) impairing his mobility, shinfinTM fins enable Robert to swim 50 pool laps every day, also using a waist belt for extra flotation. Because his fingers are also affected by the MS, the alternative strapping for less finger strength can help him, along with a longer strap tail to pull, for the buckle that he tightens. Furthermore, he can wear the fins over socks to protect sensitive skin from abrasion.

Robert’s review from Soldiers Point, Australia

“The shinfinTM fins are great. Robert has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) later stages but we have an indoor pool. So now, with the aid of a waist belt and shinfinTM fins, he can swim 50 lengths of the pool every day. Not bad for a 77 year old. So we are very happy we bought them. Thank you for the follow-up. Sincerely, Enid (Robert’s wife).”

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Bilateral fused ankles & chronic lower limb pain swim fins


Matthew, a physiotherapist, finds shinfinTM fins a fantastic help for his client with bilateral fused ankles and bilateral chronic lower limb pain. Because they are so adjustable, his client fits them more comfortably higher up his shin to suit his fused ankles. Because the fins encourage smooth horizontal swimming, they also reduce his chronic lower limb pain. Hence his client increases his physical fitness a lot faster with shinfinTM fins. So he achieves a lot more from his swimming.

Matthew’s review from Christchurch, New Zealand

“Thanks for such a fantastic product. I got these for a client of mine who has fused ankles bilaterally, as well as chronic lower limb pain bilaterally. He has found them very good. We are using them attached quite high up the shin, because he found this the best place to avoid discomfort at the ankle. They have allowed him to increase his physical fitness a lot faster and he feels he is achieving a lot more.”

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Both ankles fused: swimming & snorkeling fins


Like many people with fused ankles, Art was unable to swim or snorkel without his shinfinTM fins. This is because there is too much foot drag with both ankles fused at the usual 90 degrees standing position. However, because shinfinTM fins strap above his ankles, they direct water flow over the tops of his feet. Thus they reduce foot drag without straining his ankles or feet. Furthermore, they also reduce drag by lifting his legs horizontal and streamlining his body. Most importantly, shinfinTM fins give him the extra kick power from his hips needed for swimming and snorkeling.

Art’s review from Seven Hills, Australia

“I am really happy with the shinfinTM fins. I have had both of my ankles fused and was unable to swim. Having the shinfinTM fins enabled me to swim around and snorkel on the Barrier Reef off Cairns. This was a wonderful experience, once in a lifetime for me, and something that I couldn’t have done without the shinfinTM fins.”

“Thank you, they created the highlight of my holiday.”

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Back surgery recovery & pool walking: rehabilitation fins


Fitness swimming and pool walking with shinfinTM fins, plays a major role in Diane’s rehabilitation and recovery from major back surgery. The fins strengthen the muscles in her back, lower abdomen and core because they encourage kicking from her hips. What’s more, they help her learn to swim higher in the water with straighter legs. She is unable to kick normal foot flippers because they bend her back painfully. You can read about her wonderful recovery progress with shinfinTM fins over a year or so.

Diane’s review from Queensland, Australia

“My back is improving and so is my fitness level thanks to the fins. I try to swim with them 5 mornings a week for at least 1.5 hours. Your fins made it possible for me to learn to swim high in the water with minimal leg movement. They also strengthened my back and lower abdominal muscles by encouraging me to kick with a straighter leg than I would normally. I have also enjoyed walking in the pool. When walking I leave my fins on and they encourage me to stabilize my core muscles and carry myself up tall and straight. I don’t have to lift my feet any higher than my normal gait.”

“I am very impressed with your shinfinTM fins and believe they have played a major role in my recovery. So I highly recommend them for anyone in my position and see many benefits for people with a variety of physical challenges. Once again, thank you for a wonderful product.”

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Pool, snorkel & dive: transtibial amputee fins


Mike, a transtibial (below knee) amputee, loves his shinfinTM fins, starting with pool laps then open water swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. Most important, to optimise water balance he wears one fin on his stump and the other on his full leg. Furthermore, he loves the fact that he can adjust the fin heights and angles on his legs. So he can experiment to get the most comfortable fin placements.

Mike’s review from Homestead, USA

“I love the fins! It is so nice not swimming in left hand circles:) No really, I am so happy with the shinfinTM fins and I love being back in the water. I love being able to do laps in the pool and getting ready for open water soon. Thanks for the fins! A happy shinfinTM fins owner.”

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Endless pool, snorkeling & scuba: above knee amputee fin


Daily over four years, Ian, an above knee amputee, uses his shinfinTM fin exercise swimming against his endless pool jet, and for snorkeling and scuba diving. Above all, Ian finds his shinfinTM fin is one of the best exercise aids for stopping his stump from atrophying. His amputation is four inches above knee. He adjusts the shinfinTM fin to fit on his prosthesis and also on his stump. Certainly, just wearing one fin like this, strengthens his muscles and gives him really good balance in the water. However, many above knee amputees (and below knee amputees) wear another shinfinTM fin on their full leg.

Ian’s review from Manhattan Beach, USA & Waiuku, New Zealand

“I am an above knee amputee. I have been using your swim fin for muscle strengthening whilst swimming on my prosthesis. Not only has the fin been fantastic, but I am only just now replacing the rubber strap, after four years of daily use! I also just fit it to my stump, which works really well. I have an Endless Pool, so swim against the jet, and seem to stay balanced really well. In fact, the fin is almost too good! One of my best aids to stop the stump from atrophying, as I use a vacuum socket. I really like your fin. Apart from an exercise aid, I also take it with me when I go scuba diving or snorkeling too. Thank you for a great product.”

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Fused ankles & Arthrogryposis clubbed feet fins


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.”

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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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