Abstract
We developed a passive dorsiflexion and plantar flexion device for ankle joints in standing posture using a lever crank mechanism. We confirmed that dynamically stretching the triceps surae improves the blood flow via muscle pumping effect. This demonstrates that the system is effective for preventing venous thrombosis and articular contraction. The flexibility of the ankle joint is evaluated by the dorsiflexion energy, which is estimated by integrating the ankle joint torque with respect to dorsiflexion angle. The variation of flexibility caused by stretching is quantitatively traceable and estimable. Furthermore, balancing capability can be simultaneously evaluated by the magnitude of variation of the ankle joint torque while maintaining a standing posture against the change in the ankle joint angle.
