A chap living here in Bathurst builds synthetic bodhrans (powder coated aluminium frame and synthetic drum head) with strap and cutaway arm rest. In his day job he has a seating clinic, modifying wheel chairs and so on, so he's heavily into ergonomics and avoiding repetitive strain injuries. He swears by the strap, so to speak.

Jim's bodhrans

Disclaimer: I play in a band with Jim and we even let him play bodhran.