Finger Stretching Device for Physical Therapy

This is a recreation of the “Yogahands” physical therapy device. An organist colleague asked me to design this, as it is incredibly helpful to him but the Yogahands product seems to be no longer available.

While I make no claim as to the effectiveness of this device, the original website (no longer available) for the product claimed that it is helpful for tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

You put your fingers between the pads and push until you feel a stretch.

Printing

• 2x frame

• 3x post

• 3x pad

• 1x post installer (optional)

I've noticed that the post tabs break more frequently during assembly if printed at large layer heights. I print everything at 0.15mm. YMMV

Print the frame and post in whatever filament works. PLA is fine. PETG or ABS might last longer.

The frame and post should load into your slicer properly, but make sure that the flat side is down on the post and the chamfer side is down on the frame.

Pad Print Settings

Print in TPU.

I used Overture 95A TPU with the following settings in PrusaSlicer, which I felt most closely matched the feel of the original foam pads: 

• Layer Height: 0.28mm

• Perimeters: 1

• Top & Bottom Layers: 0

• Infill Density: 10%

• Infill Pattern: Gyroid

My colleague preferred these settings as well.

You can achieve a different feel for the pad by adjusting print settings. I found infill = 5% to be too squishy and infill = 15% to be a little too firm.

Assembly

• Place one frame on a flat surface, making sure that the holes with the chamfers are facing up

• Snap a post into each of the three holes

  • Optionally use the post installer

• Place a pad on each post

• Snap the remaining frame onto the posts, chamfer-side down

The posts are tough to snap in, but work. Push hard. I hope to make this easier in a future revision.

Note

This is more or less complete. I wanted to do it tool-free so I went with a snap design, since my colleague travels a lot with his and can carry around spare posts if needed. The design would be easier to assemble with bolts, which I may do at some point.

Since this was a genuinely useful physical therapy product that is now out of production, I'll keep an eye on this and adjust if anybody has feedback.

Todo

• Collect & implement feedback