Development of Soft Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Device with Bowden Cables Supports Natural Ankle Movements

Abstract

Post-stroke survivors have lower limb spasticity due to myotonic tonus on triceps of calf. To preserve ankle joint flexibility, the developed ankle rehabilitation device with Bowden cables successfully assists two ankle combination movements: supination and pronation without restricting axes of motions. Trials are conducted with twenty healthy females at the mean age of 21.5 ± 3.2 to determine how the device affects four lower leg muscles: Tibialis Anterior (TA), Peroneus Longus (PL), Medial Gastrocnemius (MG), and Soleus (SOL) during all single movements: plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion as well as the two combination movements. It is confirmed that the developed device can implement the six movements, support a wider range of motions with less muscle contractions. There is high expectation on the developed device that it could help stroke survivors to maintain their ankle joint flexibility with natural ankle movement in the future.