Supine Gait Training Device for Stroke Rehabilitation -Design of a Compliant Ankle Orthosis

摘要

Stroke is the leading cause of chronic physical disability, including locomotion. Patients not only suffer the primary deficits of stroke which include impaired walking, paralysis and poor motor control, but also secondary implications due to lowered cardiovascular performance and musculoskeletal consequences. After the trauma, the Central Nervous System (CNS) undergoes continuous remodelling through cerebral reorganization starting from the acute phase, in response to physical activity of the subject. A Supine Gait Training Device is developed to enable patients to undergo gait training while lying in bed, thus allowing the early re-education of the CNS immediately after the trauma. Part of this device is the ankle orthosis. It encompasses the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and tibiotalar (TBT) joints, which according to principles of neuroplasticity, must be activated in meaningful ways for effective rehabilitation. This paper will focus on the mechanical design of the ankle orthosis and its features of compliance and adjustability.