Programmable Foam® keeps Tania comfortable during competition
Every elite athlete knows that success lies in the smallest details—especially when managing a complex health condition. Paralympic javelin thrower Tania Keramyda faces daily challenges living with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disease causing muscle weakness and fatigue. For years, persistent lower back pain from long hours in her wheelchair threatened her training and performance.
To address these challenges, Ortholife Group, specialists in orthotic care and 3D printing, designed and produced custom support cushions tailored precisely to Tania’s needs. Powered by Create it REAL’s advanced Programmable Foam® technology, these cushions didn’t just ease her pain—they transformed her comfort, posture, and focus, becoming vital tools in her athletic journey.
But how did these custom cushions deliver such a transformation? To understand, we first need to take a closer look at Tania’s condition and the challenges she faces during long competitions.
Understanding myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the communication points between nerves and muscles. This causes muscle weakness that varies throughout the day. For Tania, strength and energy can shift unpredictably. Even simple movements test her resilience. Recovery demands a careful balance of training, medication, and rest.
Despite these hurdles, Tania’s determination and adaptive approach have allowed her to compete at the highest levels, proving that chronic conditions don’t have to limit ambition or achievement.
Pain from hours spent seated
Training and competing at the Paralympic level means Tania spends many hours each day in her wheelchair. The combination of intense physical demands and extended seated periods led to persistent lower back pain that affected her posture, comfort, and concentration.
This pain was more than an annoyance—it was a barrier threatening her performance and quality of life. Finding a solution to support her body and relieve discomfort became essential.
Designed with precision
Living with a complex health condition often breeds skepticism toward new solutions—after all, the risks fall entirely on you if they don’t work. Yet Ortholife showed Tania that relief can be crafted with the same precision and dedication she applies to training her body.
At their Athens facility, Ortholife creates orthopedic devices daily using advanced 3D printing. They base designs on detailed user data.
Tania’s custom 3D-printed seating aid is a fully digital solution. Orthopedic engineers use precise measurements: cushion and backrest size, body shape, pressure points, and movement patterns. Vacuum bags, scanners, pressure mapping, and movement analysis gather this data to build an exact 3D model.
Her seat cushion features zones of varying firmness to target pressure relief and promote good posture. The backrest cushion offers stability during long competition waits, helping her stay comfortable and ready.
Collaboration and precision in every step
The process started with a deep assessment of Tania’s posture, seating habits, and pain areas. Ortholife’s experts scanned her wheelchair and body contours to create cushions perfectly shaped for her.
Using Create it REAL’s Programmable Foam® technology, they made cushions with multiple hardness zones tailored exactly to her needs. Through fittings and Tania’s feedback, the cushions were fine-tuned to maximize comfort and support, both on and off the field.
When Tania first tried the new seating aid, she called it “unbelievable relief.”
Relief that fuels performance
Since using the cushions, Tania has found major relief from lower back pain. Her posture improved, her spinal alignment felt better, and she gained a physical uplift.
For a wheelchair javelin athlete, elbow support is critical. The elbow controls the power and precision of every throw and is prone to repetitive strain during training. Tania often rests her elbows on her wheelchair’s armrests during long sessions, so comfortable cushioning helps reduce pressure and prevent fatigue.
With her new custom 3D-printed seating aid, she noticed the difference immediately: “It will really help me with supporting my elbows,” she says. This personalized support changed her comfort and performance.
More importantly, it helped her train and compete with sharper focus, fewer distractions, and renewed confidence.
Empowering athletes through innovation and care
Tania’s story shows the power of personalized orthotic care from Ortholife combined with Create it REAL’s Programmable Foam® technology. When she feared persistent pain might end her career, this tailored support changed everything. It helped her push limits and redefine what’s possible.
As Tania puts it, “This is amazing, it saved me!”
At Create it REAL, we’re proud to push boundaries alongside our partners. Tania’s story proves what we can achieve when cutting-edge technology meets expert orthopedic care.
