Elbow support for a musician
My client was no longer able to play her flute in church, which was something that had always given her great pleasure. Having the opportunity to enable her to enjoy her music and sense of community with her fellow worshipers was quite inspiring. It underlines the great strength of REMAP – that ability to create specific bits of kit that enable people to enjoy their life to the full.
The Challenge
My client has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which affects the connective tissue around joints. In this particular case, the client’s left elbow joint was particularly vulnerable, and this made it very difficult to support the weight of a flute to enable her to play it. There are no commercial solutions to meet this specific need.
The project required a cradle for her left elbow so that she did not need to support the weight of the flute, risking dislocation. This cradle needed to be compatible with the wheelchair that she uses in church, so the concept of a removable tray incorporating a support arm with a cradle for her elbow was developed.
The solution
The solution involved a plywood tray that was fitted with 3D printed cups that sat over the armrests of the wheelchair, making it secure when used but easily removed. A test rig was built to establish the correct location for the elbow support and a steel tube with locking collar was used to create a variable height support with a 3D printed cradle on top of it to support the client’s elbow.
Finally, two 3D printed fittings were made to support the flute when it wasn’t being played, so that the client could rest her arms whenever possible.
The benefit
The solution worked and it was a delight to see the client play her flute again in church after a long period when it had not been possible. She was particularly pleased that, when combined with her preferred clothing colour (black or grey), the tray and support could hardly be seen.
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