dorbie 0
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lowie 0
Just my .02c worth but I broke my ankle pretty badly paragliding a few years ago and then learnt to skydive about 4 years after i broke it. I've had no problems with landings but appreciate that shit can happen.
FWIW, I severely broke my ankle skydiving & my doctor told me I'd never jump again. Did I listen to him? No. But then again my doc wasn't Dave Newcomer, the skydiving surgeon, who would have given me different advice considering I've jumped with him after my accident.
Anyway, I have 2 screws in the big bone and a titanium plate and 6 pins in the little bone (yeah it was a major break). I've put over 400 jumps on the ankle since it was broken & have had no problems. I wear nothing special other than athletic shoes w/o any ankle supports. Not to say that things can't happen, but if your hubby wants to jump, don't let his ankle stop him.
Put it this way, if your hubby can run across rough ground without any problems, there's not much in skydiving that he can't handle. But tell him to know how to PLF!
Anyway, I have 2 screws in the big bone and a titanium plate and 6 pins in the little bone (yeah it was a major break). I've put over 400 jumps on the ankle since it was broken & have had no problems. I wear nothing special other than athletic shoes w/o any ankle supports. Not to say that things can't happen, but if your hubby wants to jump, don't let his ankle stop him. Put it this way, if your hubby can run across rough ground without any problems, there's not much in skydiving that he can't handle. But tell him to know how to PLF!
dorbie 0
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Put it this way, if your hubby can run across rough ground without any problems, there's not much in skydiving that he can't handle. But tell him to know how to PLF!
She's talking about a tandem jump.
amy 0
Quotebut far too many think that they know better than their patients
Do you believe that your doctor _doesn't_ know better than you when it comes to health concerns? Because if you do, there's no reason to go see him.
A good physician will give you his best estimation of the risk you're taking, based on his medical knowledge and on his understanding of the physical stresses of the activity concerned. The decision whether or not to take that risk is yours.
Amy
QuoteQuotebut far too many think that they know better than their patients
Do you believe that your doctor _doesn't_ know better than you when it comes to health concerns? Because if you do, there's no reason to go see him.
You'll need to be careful about the "your" doctor bit. I don't have one to claim my own. In the last 14 years, I think I've made 7 visits to physicians, excluding the Lasik adventure. That included two routine checkouts, two aforementioned incidents, one raging appendix, the emergence of floaters in the eyes, and some lingering bruising after I feel asleep on a bicycle. Four of these were to eliminate worst case scenarios.
When it comes to sporting concerns, I don't think they know better than me. Esp on diving matters. Some are barely competent to read the BMI chart, which is a really lousy starting point for telling an athlete what their ideal weight range might be.
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A good physician will give you his best estimation of the risk you're taking, based on his medical knowledge and on his understanding of the physical stresses of the activity concerned. The decision whether or not to take that risk is yours.
That's how it *should* be. And if you can find the right man (I've had better luck with women doctors), it can be, so long as you stick to health insurance that he participates with, and not move physically.
A few clinics have ditched insurance and gone to a cash system with very personal service up here, but those seem more suitable for those who visit on a quarterly or semiannual basis.
riddler 0
No one can guarantee what your husband's landing will be like - he might even bump his ankle hard on the way out of the plane. Your doctor probably has the best advice here.
Personally, I always jump with ankle protection as a preventative measure (I hope). If your husband can jump off a chair seat and land safely on the ground, then his ankle is probably in good enough shape to land normally on a tandem.
Edit - as far as weight, you will have to call the dropzones and find their upper weight limit. I've seen tandem passengers that weighed as much as 275 - I'm not saying it was right, but it was the decision of the T.I. and the dropzone. If he's under 250, you should be able to find a DZ that will take him. Best if he's under 220 though.
Personally, I always jump with ankle protection as a preventative measure (I hope). If your husband can jump off a chair seat and land safely on the ground, then his ankle is probably in good enough shape to land normally on a tandem.
Edit - as far as weight, you will have to call the dropzones and find their upper weight limit. I've seen tandem passengers that weighed as much as 275 - I'm not saying it was right, but it was the decision of the T.I. and the dropzone. If he's under 250, you should be able to find a DZ that will take him. Best if he's under 220 though.
Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD
It is quite common for tandem passengers to be older than 70 years and even without ever breaking an ankle in their lives would be more prone to this type of injury than your hubby.
At our centre we have had paraplegics (hope I've spelt that right) as tandems. The instructors are skilled at the sport and adapt to the needs of the student.
Where risks are greater then they will only carry out the jump if conditions are right for the particular situation so I would say let him do it but don't be supprised or upset if others further down the list (normally first come, first served) jump before him. The decision of when he jumps will be taken with HIS saftey in mind.
There's nothing stopping him jumping solo (S/L or AFF) if he wishes provided he meets the medical condition etc. and ACCEPTS the risks.
Why don't you do one at the same time?
Blue Skies.
Get out, Land on a green bit. If you get the pull somewhere in between it would help.
At our centre we have had paraplegics (hope I've spelt that right) as tandems. The instructors are skilled at the sport and adapt to the needs of the student.
Where risks are greater then they will only carry out the jump if conditions are right for the particular situation so I would say let him do it but don't be supprised or upset if others further down the list (normally first come, first served) jump before him. The decision of when he jumps will be taken with HIS saftey in mind.
There's nothing stopping him jumping solo (S/L or AFF) if he wishes provided he meets the medical condition etc. and ACCEPTS the risks.
Why don't you do one at the same time?
Blue Skies.
Get out, Land on a green bit. If you get the pull somewhere in between it would help.
helldog 0
Going by personal experience I would not do any jump that I could not put equal pressure on both legs while performing a PLF. Case in point: I was helping a friend at the DZ out by being his tandem passenger. Due to a malfunction the Canopy stalled at approximately 20' above the ground. (It felt like jumping off a 2 story building.) I was able to perform a PLF applying pressure to both legs equally (we appeared to be falling straight down). He had a sore ankle and took all the force on his good leg. This resultled in a Spiral Tib Fib Fracture. 
Shit Happens, be prepared to handle it.
Blues
Jim
Shit Happens, be prepared to handle it.
Blues
Jim
Quotesome lingering bruising after I feel asleep on a bicycle
While I have nothing of value to add to this dicussion yet (I'll be testing my titanium ankle repair in Jan)...
How the hell does one fall asleep riding a bike?
QuoteQuotesome lingering bruising after I feel asleep on a bicycle
How the hell does one fall asleep riding a bike?
student life. work a graveyard shift, then go to a scintillating 8oclock class, then try riding home. One second you're riding along, next second you're halfway to the ground.
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How the hell does one fall asleep riding a bike?
I know someone who fell asleep walking down the street carrying 2 pints of milk, How did he do that you ask, easy go to bed at 2am get up at 4.30am 2-3 days in a row!
Get out, Land on a green bit. If you get the pull somewhere in between it would help.
Docs can be terrible for this kind of advice, most of them know nothing about skydiving and will tell you "no", just as a CYA.
Their view of skydiving seems to be pounding it in with a PLF on a round canopy, so asking your doc will almost invariably guarantee one answer reguardless of condition.
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