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    Latvian Wheelchair Fencer Overcomes Back Issue with Customized 3D Printed Back Brace to Compete at the Rio Paralympic Games 2016

    Image courtesy of Stratasys Ltd.
    • Having tried various conventional back braces and orthopaedic specialists leading up to Rio 2016, Polina Rožkova turned to Stratasys 3D printing to produce a customized back brace to overcome the discomfort and limited movement during fencing
    • 3D printed using Stratasys’ flexible, lightweight Nylon 12 material, the one-off back brace has been customized specifically to Rožkova’s middle spine, giving her the support required to enhance performance and compete at the highest level

    MINNEAPOLIS & REHOVOT, Israel– Sept. 14, 2016 — (BUSINESS WIRE)– Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, today announced that Latvian wheelchair fencer, Polina Rožkova, iswearing a customized 3D printed back brace during her quest for gold at the Paralympics 2016 this week. The athlete, ranked 8th in the Épée Women Category A world ranking, turned to 3D printing in order to overcome the current limitations of conventional back braces and enable her to increase performance to compete at the highest level.

    Having tested a number of back braces during preparations for the Paralympics, Rožkova struggled with large and cumbersome supports – not only giving her discomfort, but also limiting her movement when fencing. Following consultations with various orthopaedic specialists, Rožkova approached Stratasys’ Latvian reseller, Baltic3D, to explore whether 3D printing could offer a solution to her problem. Using a 3D scan of her lower back, the team used a new specialist WiDE software to digitally design a custom-fitted back brace specifically focused on supporting the exact geometry of her middle spine, an area often strained when fencing in traditional back braces due to high impact jerking movements and sweating. With this in mind, the team adopted Stratasys’ Nylon 12 3D printing material to 3D print Rožkova a flexible, lightweight back brace, which has been integral to enhancing performance in preparation for her first Paralympic duel.

    Using a 3D scan of Rožkova’s lower back, Baltic3D, a Stratasys Latvian reseller, designed and 3D printed a back brace customized specifically to her middle spine, overcoming the discomfort and limited movement found in conventional supports (Photo: Business Wire)
    Using a 3D scan of Rožkova’s lower back, Baltic3D, a Stratasys Latvian reseller, designed and 3D printed a back brace customized specifically to her middle spine, overcoming the discomfort and limited movement found in conventional supports (Photo: Business Wire)

    Jānis Jātnieks of Baltic3D, leader of the 3D printed back brace project, explains: “The conventional back brace Polina was using when she came to us was huge and did not fit her shape at all, causing her discomfort and bruises in everyday life. It was limiting her movement in fencing and hindering her performance, which is not great when you’re preparing for the Paralympics. Fortunately, we were able to help! 3D printing gives us the ability to quickly and cost-effectively produce one-off solutions customized to the individual, and having access to Stratasys Nylon material was crucial to giving her the levels of comfort and freedom of movement required to compete with the very best in her field.”

    The back brace was 3D printed on a Stratasys Fortus 450mc Production 3D Printer in one single build, in just a matter of hours. This enabled Rožkova to test various versions of the back support during training leading up to the event, while behind the scenes Jātnieks and his team were able to quickly iterate the design to perfectly meet her requirements. Having trained with the final 3D printed back brace this week, Rožkova is delighted with the outcome and confident of making her mark in Rio.

    “Throughout my years as a professional wheelchair fencer, I have been looking for an alternative, and most importantly, sports-appropriate lower back brace to allow me to fence and move freely without any restraints or pain,” says Rožkova. “As the sport puts a lot of strain on the back, I also needed a support that could be replaced easily if it broke during training or competition. I’m ecstatic with the result – not only is the 3D printed back brace visually appealing, but it gives me a level of freedom unparalleled to anything I have ever used before. I feel better equipped than ever to achieve my goals.”

    Polina Rožkova training in her new, customized 3D printed back brace for the first time before her departure to the Rio Paralympics 2016 (Photo: Business Wire)
    Polina Rožkova training in her new, customized 3D printed back brace for the first time before her departure to the Rio Paralympics 2016 (Photo: Business Wire)

    “Polina’s story is one that embodies all the great things about 3D printing and its ability to truly shape lives,” says Andy Middleton, President Stratasys EMEA. “Being able to quickly 3D print low-cost solutions customized specifically to the person takes us away from a world where we settle for small, medium or large, giving consumers more options than ever before. We are extremely proud to be a part of this project and help Polina overcome a design challenge, allowing her to compete at the top. We wish her all the success in Rio this week.”

    About Stratasys Ltd.
    For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force and dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing – shaping the way things are made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design and manufacturing. The company’s solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom and manufacturing flexibility – reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs, while improving designs and communications. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and Solidscape, and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers for prototyping and production; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and the Thingiverse and GrabCAD communities with over 2 million 3D printable files for free designs. With more than 2,700 employees and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more than 30 technology and leadership awards. Visit us online at: www.stratasys.com or http://blog.stratasys.com/, and follow us on LinkedIn.

    Stratasys is a registered trademark and Fortus is a trademark of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

    Stratasys Media Contacts
    Stratasys
    Arita Mattsoff / Joe Hiemenz Stratasys
    Tel. +972-(0)74-745-4000 (IL)
    Tel. +1-952-906-2726 (US)
    [email protected]
    [email protected]

    Germany
    Philipp Budde
    Rheinfaktor
    Tel: +49 221 88046-0
    [email protected]

    Korea
    Stratasys Korea
    Janice Lai
    Tel. +852 3944 8888
    [email protected]

    Brazil
    Clezia Martins Gomes
    GPCOM
    Tel: +55 (11) 3129-5158
    [email protected]

    North America
    Craig Librett
    Stratasys
    +1-518-494-3442
    [email protected]

    Asia Pacific
    Stratasys AP
    Janice Lai
    Tel. +852 3944 8888
    [email protected]

    Greater China
    Stratasys Shanghai
    Icy Xie
    Tel: +86-21-26018886
    [email protected]

    Europe
    Jonathan Wake / Miguel Afonso
    UK Incus Media
    Tel: +44-1737-215200
    [email protected]

    Japan
    Stratasys Japan
    Aya Yoshizawa
    Tel. +81 90 6473 1812
    [email protected]

    Mexico, Central America, Caribe and South America
    Stratasys Mexico
    Erica Massini
    Tel: +55 11 2626 9229
    [email protected]

    Source: Stratasys

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  • Filed Under: News Tagged With: Andy Middleton, Nylon 12, Stratasys EMEA, Stratasys Ltd.

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