foot splints

I know that hospitals sometimes use inflatable casts instead of the more traditional plaster kind.
Perhaps there's a version for the foot. Also, I've seen finger splints that consist of strips of
fairly stiff aluminum backed with a thin layer of foam. The foam side is taped up against a sprained
or broken finger. There should be no problem with it if it gets wet. Perhaps you might cross-post
your question to a medical newsgroup.

[email hidden] (subman) wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I know that hospitals sometimes use inflatable casts instead of the more traditional plaster kind.
Perhaps there's a version for the foot. Also, I've seen finger splints that consist of strips of
fairly stiff aluminum backed with a thin layer of foam. The foam side is taped up against a
sprained or broken finger. There should be no problem with it if it gets wet. Perhaps you might
cross-post your question to a medical newsgroup.

The problem I would envision with any sort of adhesive splint is that it could come off while
swimming. I have yet to figure out a way to keep bandages on in the pool. Even duct tape doesn't
work. The problem seems to be the huge shearing force of the water going across the tape, which
peels it off little by little.

In Maddie from Pittsburgh said:

Are there inflatable splints I could use to prevent this?

Have you looked at the socks that scuba divers sometimes wear inside their flippers to avoid
chafing? I wonder if you could wear them without the flippers?

I expect to be at CMU next week. Where and when do you swim?

Ross

[email hidden] (Maddie from Pittsburgh) wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

As some of you might remember, I turned/returned to swimming after being diagnosed with severe
joint destruction of two metatarsal joints in each foot. As I swim more and more, though, I have
more pain in my feet. I think this is because the joints that are not arthritic are very loose,
and my kick is powerful enough that my foot "flaps" a little. Are there inflatable splints I could
use to prevent this?

What I invision is a sort of toeless shoe with one bladder in the arch area which (along with a
sturdy strap around the ankle to hold it in place) could be inflated to hold the foot in a middle
arch height, and then multiple long straight bladders over the top of the foot, running parallel
to the toe bones. This way pressure could be adjusted so that the joints of the foot would be
immobilized but there would be ample blood circulation, ability to push off the wall, etc. A side
benefit would be taking away the turbulance caused by the arch-shape of the foot.

In hospitals they use a plastic compound that is used to splint broken wrists/finger etc. It looks
like white toffee and has to be 'boiled' for a moment to make it pliable before being molded around
the limb or as in your case keeping the joint still. When it cools down it stays in the shape it was
molded too whilst hot. Perhaps you could get some from your local hospital? Straps of velcro could
be used to keep it secure. I don't know if its' negatively bouyant but maybe you could put more
boyancy around it to keep you legs up anyway.........oh and some go-faster stripes? Sean.

Quoted message said:

Do these exist already? Do I need to invent them? Since I'm not an engineer but an "administrative
professional" this would be a great challenge for me! Possibly this idea could be leveraged into a
consumer product like a type of ultrasupportive flipper.

I am realy sick of arthritis, and I expect to live at least another 40 years, so I expect to get
really, really sick of it!

Madelaine

In the meanwhile, consider getting a small floatation device to place between your legs then you
won't have to kick at all. I can even do a flip turn with a little purple one someone left at the
pool. Its hard to command yourself not to kick at all but surprisingly enough, I can go pretty fast
with just the arms and streamlining.

[email hidden] (Maddie from Pittsburgh) wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

As some of you might remember, I turned/returned to swimming after being diagnosed with severe
joint destruction of two metatarsal joints in each foot. As I swim more and more, though, I have
more pain in my feet. I think this is because the joints that are not arthritic are very loose,
and my kick is powerful enough that my foot "flaps" a little. Are there inflatable splints I could
use to prevent this?

What I invision is a sort of toeless shoe with one bladder in the arch area which (along with a
sturdy strap around the ankle to hold it in place) could be inflated to hold the foot in a middle
arch height, and then multiple long straight bladders over the top of the foot, running parallel
to the toe bones. This way pressure could be adjusted so that the joints of the foot would be
immobilized but there would be ample blood circulation, ability to push off the wall, etc. A side
benefit would be taking away the turbulance caused by the arch-shape of the foot.

Do these exist already? Do I need to invent them? Since I'm not an engineer but an "administrative
professional" this would be a great challenge for me! Possibly this idea could be leveraged into a
consumer product like a type of ultrasupportive flipper.

I am realy sick of arthritis, and I expect to live at least another 40 years, so I expect to get
really, really sick of it!

Madelaine

Aha! This is the sort of brilliant idea I was looking for. That could help! Thanks!

Ross Bogue said:

In Maddie from Pittsburgh said:

Are there inflatable splints I could use to prevent this?

Have you looked at the socks that scuba divers sometimes wear inside their flippers to avoid
chafing? I wonder if you could wear them without the flippers?

I expect to be at CMU next week. Where and when do you swim?

Ross