Article
Neurosciences
Donatella Simonetti, Bart Koopman, Massimo Sartori
Summary: This article proposes a wearable technology for the rapid and quantitative assessment of musculoskeletal function. The technology utilizes sensors and algorithms to accurately estimate muscle activation and joint torques during various movements. Through testing on healthy individuals, the technology has shown promising results in reducing the time and procedures needed for clinical assessment.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Robotics
Minh Tran, Lukas Gabert, Sarah Hood, Tommaso Lenzi
Summary: Robotic leg prostheses that replicate the biomechanical functions of the missing biological leg have the potential to improve mobility and quality of life for lower-limb amputees. However, existing powered prostheses are heavier, bigger, and have shorter battery life compared to passive prostheses, which limits their clinical viability. In this study, researchers present a robotic leg prosthesis that replicates the key biomechanical functions of the knee, ankle, and toe while matching the weight, size, and battery life of conventional prostheses. Preclinical tests show that this prosthesis allows for common ambulation activities with close to normative kinematics and kinetics, and users can walk on level ground indefinitely without charging the battery in passive mode.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Jianyu Chen, Jianda Han, Juanjuan Zhang
Summary: In this study, a mobile ankle exoskeleton that can provide plantarflexion torque assistance at the ankle was developed. The exoskeleton can switch between single- and dual-motor systems to adapt to different users and tasks. The single-motor system is lighter and more transparent, while the dual-motor system provides higher assistance.
IEEE-ASME TRANSACTIONS ON MECHATRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pruthvi Serrao, Vivek Kumar Dhimole, Chongdu Cho
Summary: The ankle joint of a powered ankle-foot orthosis is a crucial component that must withstand dynamic loading conditions and meet functional requirements. Careful design and material selection are essential to increase the device's service life. In this study, a compact AFO joint based on a worm gear mechanism was designed and verified using nonlinear finite element analysis for maximum torque situations.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ho Chit Siu, Jennifer Sloboda, Ryan J. McKindles, Leia A. Stirling
Summary: This study presents a method of mapping joint torque estimates and sequences of torque predictions to wearable sensor data using modern neural networks. Long short-term memory neural networks outperform other types of networks in predicting future ankle torques, showing strong positive correlations with actual torques. The proposed approach relies on learning from motion capture data but can be implemented with wearable sensors for torque estimation without the need for motion capture data.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Kazuki Takeuchi, Keito Sugawara, Ippei Nojima, Toshiaki Tsuji
Summary: This study compared and evaluated measurement methods for ankle joint torque, and proposed a method using a single 6-axis force sensor at the toe. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of this method was comparable to using two 6-axis force sensors, indicating its usefulness for both accuracy and sensor reduction.
Article
Robotics
Guillaume Durandau, Wolfgang F. Rampeltshammer, Herman van der Kooij, Massimo Sartori
Summary: A new human-machine interface, based on neuromechanical model-based control (NMBC), allows individuals to voluntarily control bilateral ankle exoskeletons across various walking conditions. The study found that NMBC can reduce biological ankle joint torques and ankle muscle EMGs in novel walking conditions, indicating the exoskeleton operates symbiotically.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ROBOTICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Emily A. Rogers, Matthew E. Carney, Seong Ho Yeon, Tyler R. Clites, Dana Solav, Hugh M. Herr
Summary: This research introduces and evaluates a myoelectrically controlled 2-DOF ankle-foot prosthesis designed to enhance rock climbing ability in individuals with transtibial amputation. The device offers increased range of motion in ankle and subtalar positions compared to traditional passive prostheses, while also reducing knee and hip flexion angles during climbing.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Asta Kizyte, Yuchen Lei, Ruoli Wang
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different EMG input features on the machine learning algorithm-based prediction of ankle joint torque. The results show that high-density EMG datasets performed better in isometric conditions compared to bipolar EMG datasets, while for dynamic tasks, a combination of bipolar EMG or reduced dimensionality high-density EMG with kinematic features achieved the highest torque prediction accuracy.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Junyoung Kim, James Hyungsup Moon, Jonghyun Kim
Summary: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is commonly used for restoring paralyzed motor function, and feedback control strategies are crucial for improving FES-evoked movement performance. This paper proposes a robust impedance controller for FES that adjusts joint stiffness using co-contraction, showcasing improved impedance achievement in a standing balance simulation on healthy subjects.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON NEURAL SYSTEMS AND REHABILITATION ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Natsuki Sado, Hiroto Shiotani, Junya Saeki, Yasuo Kawakami
Summary: The positional difference between geometric and landmark-based definitions of ankle joint centre significantly affects ankle kinetics, indicating that the functional method should be used for defining ankle joint centre in gait analysis.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Iulia Iovanca Dragoi, Florina Georgeta Popescu, Teodor Petrita, Romulus Fabian Tatu, Cosmina Ioana Bondor, Carmen Tatu, Frank L. Bowling, Neil D. Reeves, Mihai Ionac
Summary: This paper describes the calibration and measurement method of a custom-made dynamometer for objectively analyzing human muscle strength around the ankle joint. The accuracy and reliability of the method are ensured through rigorous calibration and measurement protocol.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Pin-Wei Chen, Megan K. O'Brien, Adam P. Horin, Lori L. McGee Koch, Jong Yoon Lee, Shuai Xu, Phyllis C. Zee, Vineet M. Arora, Arun Jayaraman
Summary: Sleep plays a critical role in stroke recovery, but measuring sleep quality for stroke patients is challenging. This study investigated the feasibility of using wireless sensors to collect biophysical data during sleep and developed machine-learned algorithms to detect sleep stages.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Luis Moreira, Joana Figueiredo, Joao Paulo Vilas-Boas, Cristina Peixoto Santos
Summary: This study evaluates the accuracy and generalization ability of two Deep Learning regressors to generate user-oriented reference ankle torque trajectories, and finds that CNN is the most robust algorithm for torque estimation, with or without electromyography signals included.
Article
Sport Sciences
Steven Obst, Malia Ho, Crystal Kean, Tahlia Blanchfield, Jarrod Cash, Luke Fisher, Isabella Hawtin, Samantha Randall, Luke Heales
Summary: This study examined the immediate effects of multidirectional elastic tape (MET) on passive ankle joint torque in healthy adults. The results showed that the tape conditions had a significant effect on peak dorsiflexion torque, stiffness 1, and AUC, but not on stiffness 2 or hysteresis. However, applying increasing levels of pre-tension with MET led to a small and incremental increase in stretch resistance and elastic energy stored during passive ankle dorsiflexion.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2023)
