Evaluation of a Dual Axial Ankle Supporter with Adjustable Assisting Direction Mechanism for Plantarflexion and Dorsiflexion

Abstract

Mountaineering accidents frequently lead to lower limb injuries, particularly affecting the ankles. Ankle twisting is a common injury occurring during downhill descents. In particular, walking on cross-slopes can result in abnormal inversion or eversion of the ankle, increasing the risk of injuries. While numerous ankle assistive devices exist for walking conventional ones are often unsuitable for navigating uneven terrain. To address the challenges of cross-slope walking, we developed a dual axial ankle supporter (DAAS), featuring dual axial movement in both the sagittal and frontal planes. The Adjustable Assisting Direction Mechanism (AADM) assists the motion of the sagittal plane in DAAS. In this paper, we set a target value based on the assistance force of the mountaineering boots and confirmed that DAAS has an assistance moment that exceeds the target value. Also, Gait experiments were conducted to assess the assistive effects of the DAAS. In evaluating the impact of the AADM, goniometer signals from both ankles were measured during cross-slope walking. The findings indicate that the DAAS successfully reduced range of motion of ankle joint on the upper side of the cross-slope.