Prosthetics in the field of medicine have come a long way since their days supporting peg-legged pirates. They have now been advanced to a point that has met, and in some instances even surpassed, the level of ability that a normal muscle driven leg may offer. This has become especially evident in the field of sports. Oscar Pistorius, a South African sprinter, was banned in 2009 from participating in the Olympics because tests showed that his prosthetic legs gave him a better edge in running. The same can be said for prosthetic swimming equipment. Prosthetic legs are making a revolutionary transition into the water to give those with disabilities a chance to swim. While it may be a new technology, the advantages of swimming with prosthetic legs can already be seen.
Reduced Oxygen Input
Less is more when it comes to using a prosthetic leg in relation to required oxygen input. Legs that were once fueled by muscles requiring oxygen are now assisted by machines that don't. Since there is less muscle tissue requiring the deliverance of oxygen through the bloodstream, there is less expenditure of it. This gives the prosthetic swimmer the ability to swim at higher intensities for longer periods of time.
No Joints, No Joint Pain
The amount of leg movement performed in swimming can often leave a person with aching joints or sore muscles. Prosthetic legs, however, hold the advantage of avoiding that high joint impact because a machine is now absorbing that force. In much the same way ligaments rebound from force, prosthetic swimming legs rely on highly durable and waterproof materials to absorb the force of the water and react accordingly.
Psyche
Motivation can be one of the strongest and most influential factors in determining how far the body can push itself. The loss of a leg can leave a person both physically and mentally scarred, leaving those people to feel disconnected from the rest of society. It is often this motivation that pushes these people to get out of a wheel chair and attempt to one day walk again on prosthetic legs. The same goes for swimming. The motivation to overcome the physical barrier of never having the chance to swim again can make it that much more of a life ratifying event. It is much easier for them to respect something that was once taken from them and have the psychological advantage of never choosing to take that for granted.
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