There’s a whole new generation of water prostheses on the market that make pools, water parks and even beaches accessible to amputees. Wind surfing, canoeing, jet skiing, SCUBA diving: all are sports that amputees can enjoy. Plan that trip to the ocean you’ve always wanted to take, or hop in your car and hit the neighborhood pool. You might even want to plant yourself in a hot tub or tell your therapist that hydrotherapy is back on the list. But first, you’re going to need some adaptive equipment that can handle water and sand – not a problem!

Prosthetic Protector
Maybe your insurance won’t cover another leg. Or it could be you just don’t want the hassle of changing limbs. It’s possible you don’t have insurance, and every penny counts.

Your best option is the Dry Pro waterproof cover, introduced in 2008. Simple to put on, a snap to remove, the Dry Pro allows you to cavort in the surf or churn the chlorine. Made of surgical latex, it slides on over your leg and fits smoothly over your skin at the top. The boot, which has a non-skid grid on the bottom, fits flat against the sole of your foot. Attach a pump the size of a large lemon and press until all the air is out of the cover and the pump goes flat, creating a vacuum seal.

You are now locked and loaded for water fun! Straddle that Wave Rider, build a sand castle with your kids, wait out the next bomber curl with your friends. The one-year guarantee on your Dry Pro doesn’t mean you have to baby it.  To take off, simply slip your fingers under the cuff to break the seal.

A couple of things should be noted, though. The Dry Pro isn’t intended for electronic limbs. And the company recommends removing it every 45 minutes. But for well under $100, it opens up a whole new world.

Waterproof Prosthesis
For those of you who prefer to have a swim leg, there are options.

The simplest is an exoskeletal  limb with a waterproof, non-articulating foot. Drill a couple of holes at the top and bottom of the hollow leg so that water can enter and drain out, allowing your leg to have enough weight to get it submerged. Otherwise, you’re going to look silly with one leg floating, the other flutterkicking; one leg floating, the other doing water aerobics; one leg floating, the other buried in the hot tub. You get the idea.

You’ll also need a waterproof suspension sleeve for this setup. Neoprene is the standard, or you can try a lighter version such as the one by Knit Rite that is advertised as less apt to absorb sweat and more comfortable. Silicone, urethane and latex will all do the job, but incorporating an auto expulsion valve will improve performance.

If you’ve got a pin suspension liner, make sure that your shuttle lock can tolerate water and salt. A couple to try are Fillauer’s Gator Grip and Coyote Design’s Air-Lock.

With the above swim leg, you’re going to be able to walk on the beach, wade, walk out into the water, and even do some light swimming. Bathe, shower, slide into the hot tub or stand under a waterfall. But for serious swimming and any true sports, you’ll have to kick it up a notch. Literally!

Swim Legs with Articulated Ankles
Ankles that flex from 70-90 degrees have the advantage of reducing drag in the water and offering both the single and bilateral amputee increased balance. When the rolling action of the torso is minimized, moving through the water becomes easier. When the ankles are flexed, it’s possible to wear flippers when you swim. You expend less energy, and you move farther and faster.

Let’s start with that same exoskeletal swim leg, since even waterproofed foam has too much buoyancy to be practical. Transfemoral  ( above the knee) amputees should take a look at Aulie Devices’ Nylon Knee. Lightweight and durable, it’s also ISO-certified for weights up to 220 lbs.

Moving down, a couple of ankle choices that do the job well are Rampro’s Swimankle and the FreeStyle Swim Ankle from Freedom Innovations. The FreeStyle offers pushbutton adjustment to move from 90 degree flexion for swimming to a 3/8” heel height for walking.

A Symes foot increases the swimmer’s efficiency in the water. The relative buoyancy of the foot balances well with the leg, and the foot pivots into a natural line with the leg, reducing resistance to the water. Rampro uses Kingsley’s Steplite, which is impervious to even saltwater. The flat heel is the norm, since bare feet rule the beach.

For extra traction or to protect the tender sole of your other leg, use a pair of lightweight water shoes.

Upper Extremity Amputees Not Forgotten
Stroke power is where a lot of speed in the water comes from, and a Colorado company has come up with a simple device that can be used with a custom swimming prosthesis or strapped on to the arm directly. The Swim Fin by Sports and Recreation Technologies (TRS) flares out like the palm of your hand when pushing down against the water, but its two wings fold up automatically during stroke recovery.

The device can be rotated to accommodate various swimming strokes and styles, or the wings fixed in an open position for treading water.

The bottom line? The next time your buddy invites you to the pool, when your child asks if you can help work on their sand castle, when your partner wants you to join them in the hot tub ... the answer is, "Yes!"