Some supplementary insurance or benefits packages with mutualities have partial reimbursement for aids that contribute to physical health or sports participation.
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Swimming is known as a sport that is very kind to your joints and gives you a certain sense of freedom. Especially after an amputation, swimming can therefore be a fine sport. However, whether you go for recreational laps or train for a Paralympic dream, the right swimming prosthesis can make a big difference. At Amputee Care Center, we make custom swimming prostheses that help you do just that.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
If you often come into contact with water, whether in the pool, in the shower or by the sea, you know how important it is to be able to move freely and safely. Fortunately, there are water-resistant leg prostheses and arm prostheses especially for these situations, such as the Ottobock Aqualine, the Össur Waterproof Leg, special swimming feet or uniquely designed and 3D printed components. Our swimming prostheses are usually designed from a combination of solutions to provide comfort, withstand long-term water use thanks to their corrosion-resistant materials and smart finishes. So they are ideal if you are active, enjoy swimming, walking around the pool or simply want to be able to shower independently without worries.
A standard prosthesis is not designed to be used in water. Corrosion can occur or the liners and sleeves can fill up with water. For a myoelectric arm prosthesis or bionic arm prosthesis, (a lot of) water is of course completely disastrous. A leg prosthesis is geared to walking and not floating or diving.
We specialise in designing and making unique solutions. That is why at Amputee Care Center we make customised swimming prostheses especially for:
It is important to realise that a swimming prosthesis does not replace your regular leg or arm prosthesis, but complements it. You can think of it as a sports shoe, which you also only use for sport. At the same time, a swimming prosthesis is indispensable for those who want to progress in the water despite an amputation or congenital defect.
How we make a swimming prosthesis for you depends very much on your amputation level and your goals. A swimming prosthesis is always custom-made and is therefore in all cases made especially for you in our own prosthesis centre at ACC. To give you some examples:
Transtibial swimming prosthesis (lower leg)
For this level of amputation, we often make a lightweight water-resistant prosthesis with a hydrophobic socket and an open structure for rapid water drainage. Some swimmers deliberately ask us for an asymmetric adjustment so we can compensate in the torso or strokes.
Transfemoral swimming prosthesis (upper leg)
Here, the focus is often on stability during boarding, diving and push-off. Here, the swimming prosthesis often has a tubular construction and is often made without knee articulation to avoid so-called “drag”. We also provide extra grip on the sole of the foot for bathing edges.
Transradial or transhumeral swimming prosthesis (lower and upper arm)
For arm amputations, we often make swimming prostheses with paddles or fins as end pieces. We can also make interchangeable end pieces for crawl, breaststroke or butterfly stroke at Amputee Care Center.
A swimming prosthesis has to endure quite a lot, so high-quality materials are extremely important. Just think about the water pressure, temperature changes, chlorine, salt or UV that such a prosthesis has to withstand. This is why at Amputee Care Center we work exclusively with:
Sam de Visser we at Amputee Care Center have known since he was just a baby. Back then, of course, we didn't realise how driven he was and that he would have international ambitions. Meanwhile, Sam de Visser is a Paralympic athlete and performs at world level.
Together with Sam, we are constantly working on the further development of special swimming prostheses that allow him to safely step to the water's edge and tackle his training sessions professionally. The prosthesis also helps to relieve his body between intensive sessions.
For Sam, the leg prosthesis is not a sports tool in itself during competition, as he swims in competition without it, but it is an indispensable part in performing optimally.
The bond between Sam and the Amputee Care Center shows where specialised care could lead in the long run, in and out of the pool.
Of course, most of our prosthesis wearers at Amputee Care Center swim not to win medals, but mainly to exercise with confidence, in and around the pool or at the beach. We see that swimming is often a bridge to overcoming a fear of wet surfaces and slippery tiles in people with leg amputations.
Even for swimming prostheses, however, it is of course important: it has to fit properly! A swimming prosthesis that chafes, shifts or does not fit properly takes you out of your flow. That is why we measure every swimming prosthesis completely to size, possibly with 3D-printed sleeves or parts, paying special attention to:
Whatever your goal in the water, at Amputee Care Center we are here to provide you with optimal guidance. We customise the swimming prosthesis, but we also help you get used to it in order to perform better and better or swim more comfortably
Unfortunately, a swimming prosthesis is not (fully) reimbursed in most cases. In Belgium, a standard prosthesis is reimbursed through the RIZIV; also in the Netherlands, many health insurers reimburse part of a standard prosthesis in case of a medical indication (MI). Unfortunately, a swimming prosthesis (or any other recreational prosthesis or sports prosthesis) is almost never a medical necessity. Therefore, they usually fall outside this scheme and must be paid for by yourself.
However, options do exist:
Swimming prosthesis in Belgium
Some supplementary insurance or benefits packages with mutualities have partial reimbursement for aids that contribute to physical health or sports participation.
Through organisations such as the VAPH (Vlaams Agentschap voor Personen met een Handicap), you can get reimbursement for sports prostheses in some cases. Swimming prostheses are not always covered by this, but with a well-founded application, there are sometimes possibilities, especially if you play sports as a rehabilitator or at competition level.
If you are active within a G-sports club or federation (such as Parantee-Psylos), there are sometimes subsidies for equipment that enables sports participation. Additional channels can also be accessed in the case of top-level sports ambitions.
Swimming prosthesis in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, a swimming prosthesis is usually outside the regular basic insurance. But even here, there are options for reimbursement:
Some supplementary insurance policies give you (small) reimbursement for additional aids or sports facilities. This varies by insurer and policy. At ACC, we will help you check whether you are eligible.
Through your municipality, you can apply if the swimming prosthesis is essential for:
Each municipality decides autonomously, but with the right medical justification as well as a clear motivation (e.g. recovery, combating social isolation, prevention of complaints) you may stand a better chance. Amputee Care Center can help you with that substantiation.
For people in a reintegration or work trajectory, the UWV can help think about tools that contribute to recovery and employability. Swimming as a therapeutic tool is increasingly recognised in multidisciplinary rehabilitation plans.
There are a number of funds in the Netherlands that make sport accessible to people with disabilities. These include:
Do you just want to be able to swim again despite an amputation or do you even have top-level sports ambitions? We would love to help you at Amputee Care Center with a tailor-made swimming prosthesis. Curious about our swimming prostheses or other sports solutions? Then visit our page on sports prostheses discover how we help you get the best out of yourself. Discover new possibilities for a life full of fun!
Contact us directly for a no-obligation introductory consultation.
Contact us by completing the Contact Form or by calling +32 (0)470 500 888.
We are at your service.
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