Development of a power assist foot to improve the range of the movements of toe and ankle joints

Abstract

For preventing movement disorder the rehabilitation equipment was developed utilizing bellows actuators. The equipment for foot was produced and tested. The equipment was able to assist the motion of the ankle joint and toe joint. The developed power assist foot uses a resin bellows as an actuator, and by contracting and extending this bellows pneumatically, it assists the joint motion of the toe and ankle, i.e., dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. It also assists in inversion and eversion. It was shown that the developed power assist foot had an effect of improving blood flow, because the effects of the muscles becoming soft and eliminating swelling were remarkable.