Ankle board

pinshape

This is a parametric printable ankle board / balance board / wobble board that is used for rehabilitating ankle injuries, improving balance and agility, core strengthening, athletic coordination, increasing ankle motion, and general training. Ankle boards range in price from $20 to over $100 for high-end models that allow customization of the size. This design does everything commercial versions do but is better because it allows you to alter the hemisphere size in OpenSCAD as you get better, making it easier to increase difficulty by printing out a new piece. The OpenSCAD files are included so you can change the size and thus the difficulty of the board. The images show the default setting and STL. Print the STL with a reasonable infill on your favorite open-source 3D printer. Cut out a circle in plywood - the easiest way to do this is to put a nail in the middle and then tie a string to your jigsaw the length equal to the radius of your wanted ankle board circle. Commercial versions of ankle or wobble boards are usually around 16 inches in diameter. Drill a hole in the middle of the circle. Bolt the printed hemisphere to the board with a 3/8 hex nut/bolt. The hemisphere has a hexnut hole in it meant to lock the nut in so you can tighten from the top and easily switch out hemispheres. One of the main features of the ankle board is that it improves proprioception, which is your sense and awareness of the position of your body parts. Having good proprioception helps reduce the risk of injury. Here are the basics of using it: While sitting down on a chair place the board under your feet and slowly rotate it a number of times in each direction to improve ankle range of motion and control. Stand on the board with both feet while holding on to a chair for balance. Rock the board forwards and backwards, then side to side. When you are comfortable with (2) stand on the board and rotate it around so that the edge of the board is in contact with the floor at all times. As you get better try balancing on the board for as long as you can without the edges touching the floor. As you master your balance try to make it harder by rotating the board in a circle without allowing the edge of the board to touch the floor. Balancing on the board with both feet, perform small knee bends to challenge your balance. Gradually bend your knees further into a squat and then a deep squat. Again while balancing with both feet, reach both arms out in front of you. Rotate your upper body around slowly from side to side. Balancing with both feet, throw a ball against a wall and catch it on its return. You can also do this with a partner. Close your eyes. Do all of the above exercises. This will make them considerably more challenging. Now try one leg and repeat 2 through 9. At this point you are probably pretty skilled - open your eyes and have a friend throw stuff at you to catch. Add friends, throwing speed and danger of objects. Repeat 11 with eyes closed and then get to work on a printable light saber! Have fun!