- My name is Lydia Credle, and I am a sophomore at Elon University studying public health as well as public policy. I have personally dealt with hypermobile joints, which has inspired my project. If you are interested in my work or have further questions, feel free to email me at lcredle@elon.edu.
- Nim Betchlor has been my sponsor throughout this process. He currently works for Elon's Maker Hub but has previously worked as a Professor of Psycology.
For those with arthritis, hypermobility, and other mobility conditions, ring splints can be helpful in supporting joints within the hand. These splints can reduce pain and assist in daily tasks. Ring splints can be either custom or pre-made, with custom being the most effective, however, they can be prohibitively expensive. With my Kickbox project I have created a system for fabricating custom ring splints for ~$10 instead of the usual ~$200.
Why thermoplastic?
The thermoplastic used in my project is affordable and easily accessible. It's also easily customizable for both fit as well as style. I mostly use the Polly Plastic Pellets as well as their pigments, but I have also successfully used Instamorph Thermoplastic.
Methods:
The first step of my process is adding thermoplastic pellets to a water bath heated to 40-50° C. If I am adding pigment to the rings, I do it at this time. Once the plastic has been heated to a malleable state, I roll it between my hands and stretch it out into a cord. The next step (and in my opinion the most difficult one) is wrapping the cord around the participant's finger to form the ring. Finally, I add my finishing touches by heating parts of the ring back up to ensure it is durable and fits perfectly.
My prototypes (shown above) are the product of material tests and different sculpting methods. Most of my prototypes, however, have been recycled and melted down to create more rings
Advice for those who want to create their own ring splints:
- It's faster to heat the pellets up in boiling water than in the water temperature suggested above. I wouldn't recommend this as it makes sculpting more difficult and requires extra effort to prevent burns.
- Stretch the cords instead of trying to roll them out to make them thinner before forming. Having the plastic at the right temperature helps significantly.
- When forming the ring around a finger, if you are satisfied with the shape and fit, allow the ring to harden while still on the finger. This prevents the ring from becoming malformed as its taken off.
- Be creative! The process listed here is only a small collection of possibilities with this material. If you alter the method I used to cater to your specific wants or needs, I am interested in seeing what you create. Even if you glean only a sliver of information or inspiration from my project please send me photos or ask me questions!