Adopting an Artificial Muscle-Type Dorsiflexion Assist Device for Inferior Member Motor Paralysis by Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

Abstract

There has recently been substantial research regarding assistance in gait rehabilitation using an actuator for patients with motor paralysis; however, the effect of exercise assistance of each articulation on gait has not been clarified. We developed a dorsiflexion support orthosis using artificial muscle. In this study, we report the short-term effects of dorsiflexion assistance using the proposed orthosis on gait; the proposed orthosis was applied to a patient with lumbar spondylolisthesis. The experimental design employed was the pre–post testing. There was no significant difference between the pre- and post-test results. In the intervention test, the maximum pressure of the heel significantly increased.