Development of ROM Device for Ankle Joints Using Pneumatic Soft Actuators

Abstract:
Elderly people sometimes become bedridden due to injury or illness. If the bedridden state does not improve, contractures occur in joints. To prevent a contracture of a joints, range of motion (ROM) exercises need to move the joint to the maximum ROM. Therefore, we developed a ROM device for ankle joints of using pneumatic soft actuators for purpose of preventing contracture. Our ROM device provides six types of ROM in the ankle joint, plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, adduction, abduction, supination, and pronation. We conducted an evaluation experiment of range of motion using with five subjects. As a result, the average of ROM achievement was 66.0 percent for plantar flexion, 72.9 percent for dorsiflexion, 51.2 percent for adduction and 68.9 percent for abduction.