The Determination of Assistance-as-Needed Support by an Ankle–Foot Orthosis for Patients with Foot Drop

Scherb D, Steck P, Wechsler I, Wartzack S, Miehling J (2023)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Book Volume: 20

Article Number: 6687

Journal Issue: 17

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176687

Open Access Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6687

Abstract

Patients who suffer from foot drop have impaired gait pattern functions and a higher risk of stumbling and falling. Therefore, they are usually treated with an assistive device, a so-called ankle–foot orthosis. The support of the orthosis should be in accordance with the motor requirements of the patient and should only be provided when needed, which is referred to as assistance-as-needed. Thus, in this publication, an approach is presented to determine the assistance-as-needed support using musculoskeletal human models. Based on motion capture recordings of multiple subjects performing gaits at different speeds, a parameter study varying the optimal force of a reserve actuator representing the ankle–foot orthosis added in the musculoskeletal simulation is conducted. The results show the dependency of the simulation results on the selected optimal force of the reserve actuator but with a possible identification of the assistance-as-needed support required from the ankle–foot orthosis. The required increase in support due to the increasing severity of foot drop is especially demonstrated with the approach. With this approach, information for the required support of individual subjects can be gathered, which can further be used to derive the design of an ankle–foot orthosis that optimally assists the subjects.

Authors with CRIS profile

David Scherb Chair of Engineering Design Patrick Steck Chair of Engineering Design Iris Wechsler Chair of Engineering Design Sandro Wartzack Chair of Engineering Design Jörg Miehling Chair of Engineering Design

Related research project(s)

Bereinigung multimodaler Bewegungsmessdaten mittels individualisierter muskuloskelettaler Menschmodelle (SFB 1483 EmpkinS C02) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025 Methodik zur Auslegung passiver, strukturoptimierter Orthesen für die Behandlung bzw. Kompensation pathophysiologischer Bewegungsmuster anhand muskuloskelettaler Menschmodelle Oct. 1, 2021 - Sept. 30, 2024

How to cite

APA:

Scherb, D., Steck, P., Wechsler, I., Wartzack, S., & Miehling, J. (2023). The Determination of Assistance-as-Needed Support by an Ankle–Foot Orthosis for Patients with Foot Drop. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176687

MLA:

Scherb, David, et al. "The Determination of Assistance-as-Needed Support by an Ankle–Foot Orthosis for Patients with Foot Drop." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20.17 (2023).

BibTeX: Download