Denise Schindler lost her leg in an accident when she was very young. But that didn’t stop Schindler from pursuing an active lifestyle and having sportive ambitions. Training with discipline and determination, the 30-year-old German cyclist has gone on to win a number of accolades, including two silvers and a bronze at the World Championships, and most recently a silver medal in Rio.
But using a standard prosthetic leg, Schindler was often in pain. For the Rio Games in 2016, she wanted to be at the top of her discipline. She felt she needed a customized prosthetic leg, something that is essential for her to avoid discomfort and injuries while competing.
She has worked with Paul Sohi, a British product designer at Autodesk to design and manufacture the world’s first 3D printed performance prosthetic which she wore in Rio.
“The production time of a prosthetic leg is much faster with 3D printing,” he said. “Previously, prosthetics took up to 12 weeks to manufacture. However, with the 3D printing technologies, it can be done in 3-5 days.”
“3D printing a prosthetic leg is also way cheaper than the traditional manufacturing methods,” Sohi explained.
As the icing on the cake, they are lighter too – which can play a significant role in determining an athlete’s performance. Sohi and his colleagues managed to reduce the weight of the prosthetic by a third or 400 grams (0.9 lb) – which also meant the leg became more aerodynamic and had a better power output.
“Previously, these type of things needed to be done by hand. Now they can be mass customized in no time,” added Sohi.
Years of hard work and the conveniences of a 3D printed prosthetic leg helped Schindler to achieve her ‘personal best’ and made her the proud winner of a silver medal gained in Rio.
However, according to Sohi, boosting the performance of a Paralympic athlete is only a fraction of the potential of the 3D printing – especially for persons with disability.
As the needs of each disabled person are unique, Sohi believes 3D printing will reduce a great amount of pain and inconvenience from their lives.
Moreover, the process can even work remotely. Prosthetic body parts can be 3D printed – with no more than photos of the individual’s body part that requires the prosthetic. This will come particularly handy in the developing world, where disabled people might not have access to tools to assist them.
“There are already 3D printing initiatives with a focus on Africa,” Sohi added. “This can completely revolutionize the lives of disabled people all around the world.”
