Amputee diver

[Lizard Leg]

I am a right below knee amputee (RBK). I love snorkeling and freediving, and have a swim leg that I made myself, to let me wear fins at the normal 70º plantar flexion. However, this is a water only leg and I have to switch back to my walking foot when I exit the water. This can be fun in the surf.

I am looking at the Activankle by Rampro, and was wonderting if anyone here had any info on them, used them, etc.? My wife and I, as well as our son, are spending 10 days down in the Keys in June to finally get our certs finished up and spend the rest of the week diving, so I am looking for more of an all around swim system, that hopefully allows me to walk on it.

 

[pasley]

I have from time to time dove wiht Karen N, who uses an artificle leg. Her foot in in the walking position when entering from the beach, then she flips a lever and rotates it to the swim postion and to exit reverses the proceedure. Never asked what brand it was.

 

[Lizard Leg]

At this point just waiting on the tax check to arrive and then make a decision on the foot. I can use it for other things, so the vote right now is to bite the bullet and get it.

 

[cudachaser]

If you balance your weights right you can use a single fin. The dolphin kick works. Only problem is trim. Without proper weighting, you will list to side of the full leg.

 

[Lizard Leg]

Not really looking to do the one leg thing - I've got the swim prosthetic that I made myself, which works great, see attached video. I'm trying to get info on the ActivAnkle by Rampro so I can have a foot module that lets me walk on the boat, and then when I jump in the water, planter flex down to the right angle for diving.

Eleuthera 2011 - YouTube

 

[theonetruerat]

You Could look into a Ferrier Coupler Ferrier Prosthetics leg coupler for the Amputee They allow you to change between multiple feet and devices quickly.


Ferrier Prosthetics leg coupler for the Amputee

 

[Lizard Leg]

Thanks - The ferrier coupler would let me change out the foot modules quickly, but would still need the ankle to get past the issue of not being able to walk on the swim leg. When you have to fight the surf to get out, then swap the foot module, my wife brings it back past the tide line, and then back out to me - well, if anything happened to her, it would be a long crawl through the sand to get back to the walking foot!

The RamPro ankle seems to be the way to go... just trying to research as much as I can before ordering. I'm a big guy so I want to make sure I'm not going to wear it out / break it the first few times out.

 

[Crosser619]

i am also a Right BKA an i have been diving the free style swim foot. specp are attached . Freedom Innovations | Freestyle Swim

this is i nice foot that has a easy to push pin that lets you change it from walking potition to swimming potition witch is 70 Degrees planter flection. it is really nice for shore dives and boat dives. the only seggestion i give is when boat diving put the foot in the walking potition before you swim to the ladder. HAHA.

Users can now walk proudly and comfortably to and from the swim area

Adjust to 70° plantar flexion for swimming with the simple push of a button

Utilize a flipper to gain swimming speed and decrease energy expenditure

Balance the body and enhance swimming efficiency

Rated to 255 lbs.; Ankle 12-month warranty; carbon fiber foot module 36 months

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Freestyle Swim Foot is flexed and ready for swimming.
  
  
  [h=2]Freestyle Swim Technical Specifications[/h]Sizes: 22-30cm
  User Weight Rating: 255 lbs. (116kg)
  Stiffness Categories: 1-6
  Build Height (average): 4 inches
  Product Weight (average): 485g
  Connector: Integral male pyramid
  Heel Height: 3/8"
  Warranty: Ankle 12-month warranty; carbon fiber foot module 36 months

---------- Post added May 12th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ----------

i did some research on the RamPro ankle and it looks like it has some problmes when esposed to any kind of debrie. so unless you are just using it fore boat diving in nice clean ocean i would not reccomend it. the free style is compleatel encolsed so it dose really good in mud , silt, and sand.

 

[alex_tx]

I am a right below knee amputee (RBK). I love snorkeling and freediving, and have a swim leg that I made myself, to let me wear fins at the normal 70º plantar flexion.

The Aqua Multipurpose Thigh-Starp could possibly be useful.
[video=youtube_share;8Twp_tuu6_0]http://youtu.be/8Twp_tuu6_0[/video]

 

[theonetruerat]

I've had great luck converting old otto bock single axis locking knees into swim ankles. This knee is the sort of thing that your prosthetist would have laying around. It's a fairly straight forward conversion. I'm putting one together right now should be done shortly after memorial weekend. I'll post some pics when I get it done if you like.

Mind if I ask what size foot you use. I have several old seattle lite feet laying around which is one of the better swim feet.