Recently, we created a custom-made bike handle design to reduce discomfort and fatigue during long rides by minimizing high pressure points on cyclists' hands.
Hand numbness is a common complaint for cyclists, usually caused by nerve compression. This can be caused by:
Gripping handlebars - Putting pressure on the ulnar nerve, which runs through the pinky side of the wrist and hand, can cause numbness and tingling in the pinky and ring fingers.
Incorrect bike position - Handlebars that are too low or brake levers that aren't adjusted correctly can constrict the nerves running through the wrist to the hands
Gripping too tightly - Gripping the handlebars or levers too tightly for too long, especially without padded gloves, can numb your hands.
Aggressive riding position - Sitting further on the bike can reduce blood flow to specific tissues, causing numbness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome - Riding on bikes with flat bars or applying excessive pressure to the bar tops can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, characterized by numbness or tingling in the fingers.
Through an in-depth understanding of human anatomy and ergonomic principles, our design team meticulously digitally scanned rider hand interfaces and created CAD models, optimizing grip contours and materials. Extensive user testing and pressure mapping validated the design. Next up is pressure gradient management and vibration damping feature integration.
Results:
The redesigned bike handles reduced high pressure points, significantly decreasing hand fatigue during rides. Incorporating CAD design based on human anatomy can lead to groundbreaking products that enhance user comfort and redefine industry standards.
Bike Handle - BEFORE
AFTER - Scanned via laser grid
AFTER - Printed in soft rubber
3B Scientific Hand Model
Video source: sciepro
Image and video source:
https://www.sciepro.com/medical-illustrations
https://www.universalmedicalinc.com/internal-hand-structure-model-3-part.html
https://www.3bscientific.com/us/life-size-hand-model-with-muscles-tendons-ligaments-nerves-arteries-3-part-3b-smart-anatomy-1000349-m18-3b-scientific,p_889_375.html
