Advantages of Swimming with Prosthetic Legs

Prosthetic legs are often used by individuals who were either born without an entire leg, or who experienced loss of one or both legs due to trauma or disease. Most standard prosthetic legs are not waterproof, but it is possible to swim with prosthetic legs. Waterproof prosthesis protectors are commercially available--these typically fit snugly over the prosthesis to ensure a watertight vacuum seal. Alternatively, specialized swimming prostheses can be obtained.

Mental Well-being

• The loss of a limb or limbs can be a devastating and demoralizing experience for any person. However, the ability to swim using prosthetic legs is a great confidence booster and increases a person's emotional well-being and self-belief. Even a person who struggles to walk on prosthetic legs may be able to swim successfully. Swimming is an aerobic form of exercise, which in itself increases a person's sense of well-being and self-sufficiency.

Muscle Tone

• Because swimming is a non-weight-bearing form of exercise, it is an excellent form of sport for individuals whose use of prosthetic limbs may make other forms of exercise--such as jogging, for example--painful, difficult or downright impossible. Therefore, a swimmer with prosthetic legs has an opportunity to use swimming as a means to improve the overall muscle tone and condition of the whole body, without putting undue strain on the connection between the prosthetic leg and flesh.

Speed

• Modern prosthetic legs are typically lighter in weight than the average human leg, and therefore a swimmer with prosthetic legs has a weight advantage, which can lead to a speed advantage in the swimming pool. Heavier people generally move more slowly through the water, and must exert relatively more energy in order to move at the same speed as a lighter person. Therefore, the swimmer with prosthetic legs may be able to swim more quickly.