rightisleft
Registered
Howdy folks!
I’ve been recreationally diving with a disability for over 2 decade (primarily warm water). My partner and I just moved up to Portland OR and the dive conditions here are much different with very heavy cold water gear.
What is HSP? (HSP : HSP & PLS : Spastic Paraplegia Foundation)
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a group of rare, inherited neurological disorders. Their primary symptoms are progressive spasticity and weakness of the leg and hip muscles. Researchers estimate that some 90 different types of HSP exist; the genetic causes are known for about fifty. The HSP incidence rate in the United States is about 20,000 people. The condition is characterized by insidiously progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity.
The hallmark of HSP is progressive difficulty walking due to increasingly weak and stiff (spastic) muscles. Symptoms appear in most people between the second and fourth decade of life, but they can start at any age. Initial symptoms are typically difficulty with balance, stubbing the toe or stumbling. Changes begin so gradually that other people often notice the change first. As the disease progresses, canes, walkers and eventually wheelchairs may become needed, although some people never require assistive devices. Other common symptoms of HSP are urinary urgency and frequency, hyperactive reflexes, difficulty with balance, clonus, Babinski’s sign, diminished vibration sense in the feet, muscle spasms, and congenital foot problems such as pes cavus (high arched foot). Some people may experience problems with their arms or fine motor control of their fingers but for most people, this is not significant.
What Problems does this cause?
Honestly, being in the water is one of the least painful activities I’ve ever done, and once i'm in i feel and perform great.
As I get older, the spasticity & hyperactive reflexes in my lower legs makes standing on 1 foot to enter the wet suit & pulling my leg up to put on my fins very very difficult (the fins more so). The addition of a 7M Farmer John suit really kicked my ass yesterday. I was completely gassed before even entering the water. I was also unable to bend my legs to put my own fins on,
I sat out the second dive. Bummer, but always be safe.
What am I looking for?
Are there any assistive devices that help with putting fins on?
Are there any assistive devices the help with balance while putting on a wet suit?
Are there any final thoughts on this type of issue when diving? Has anyone else dealt with this?
Thanks in advance!
I’ve been recreationally diving with a disability for over 2 decade (primarily warm water). My partner and I just moved up to Portland OR and the dive conditions here are much different with very heavy cold water gear.
What is HSP? (HSP : HSP & PLS : Spastic Paraplegia Foundation)
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) is a group of rare, inherited neurological disorders. Their primary symptoms are progressive spasticity and weakness of the leg and hip muscles. Researchers estimate that some 90 different types of HSP exist; the genetic causes are known for about fifty. The HSP incidence rate in the United States is about 20,000 people. The condition is characterized by insidiously progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity.
The hallmark of HSP is progressive difficulty walking due to increasingly weak and stiff (spastic) muscles. Symptoms appear in most people between the second and fourth decade of life, but they can start at any age. Initial symptoms are typically difficulty with balance, stubbing the toe or stumbling. Changes begin so gradually that other people often notice the change first. As the disease progresses, canes, walkers and eventually wheelchairs may become needed, although some people never require assistive devices. Other common symptoms of HSP are urinary urgency and frequency, hyperactive reflexes, difficulty with balance, clonus, Babinski’s sign, diminished vibration sense in the feet, muscle spasms, and congenital foot problems such as pes cavus (high arched foot). Some people may experience problems with their arms or fine motor control of their fingers but for most people, this is not significant.
What Problems does this cause?
Honestly, being in the water is one of the least painful activities I’ve ever done, and once i'm in i feel and perform great.
As I get older, the spasticity & hyperactive reflexes in my lower legs makes standing on 1 foot to enter the wet suit & pulling my leg up to put on my fins very very difficult (the fins more so). The addition of a 7M Farmer John suit really kicked my ass yesterday. I was completely gassed before even entering the water. I was also unable to bend my legs to put my own fins on,
I sat out the second dive. Bummer, but always be safe.
What am I looking for?
Are there any assistive devices that help with putting fins on?
Are there any assistive devices the help with balance while putting on a wet suit?
Are there any final thoughts on this type of issue when diving? Has anyone else dealt with this?
Thanks in advance!
