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AllWhale for Dysmenorrhic Cramp Relief

Posted: July 04 2023

Made In Brunel, Design
Made In Brunel, Design

Product Design student Lauren Shortel's final year project AllWhale is a non-pharmaceutical alternative to treating primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramping). It does this through the commercialisation of shockwave therapy technology, which has previously only been available to consumers through pain clinics or medical intervention.

The design project discussed in this blog is related to a health condition. Please consult with a healthcare professional before applying any ideas or concepts mentioned here to your specific situation.

Product picture of AllWhale, a non-pharmaceutical alternative to treating primary dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for period cramps - a common part of the menstrual cycle. When the muscular wall of the womb contracts, blood vessels are compressed, cutting off oxygen supply, causing pain in the abdominal region. Current solutions to tackling dysmenorrhea are dominated by pharmaceutical painkillers, which are littered with contradictions.

It is suggested that - as a result of these symptoms - approximately 17.2% of women experience a decrease in work productivity. 58.2% of school girls miss at least one school day.

AllWhale looks to provide consumers with an alternative method of pain management, negating the need for the regular purchase of consumables. It utilises a treatment defined as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT); it uses acoustic waves, originally used to treat tendinopathies. However, studies have proven that the pressure created as a result of this technology stimulates blood flow in that area, reopening compressed blood vessels. This is paired with a standard heating element, for a dual-treatment approach.

Product picture of AllWhale, a non-pharmaceutical alternative to treating primary dysmenorrhea
Product picture of AllWhale, a non-pharmaceutical alternative to treating primary dysmenorrhea

🖺 Made In Brunel