State of the Art Review of Active and Passive Knee Orthoses

Abstract

The use of specialized devices, such as orthopedic devices, has become indispensable in the lives of people with disabilities since ancient times. The primary purpose of such devices is to perform activities and solve problems that afflict their bearers in any extremity of their body. One of the most recurrent problems occurs in the lower extremities regarding mobility and autonomy. In addition, the use of orthopedic devices is considered a tool to lighten the repetitive and heavy rehabilitation work of physiotherapists while improving the patient’s recovery efficiency. A significant challenge is that a great variety of these devices are similar in their design and manufacture, complicating their application in rehabilitation processes. For these reasons, this article aims to provide an overview of the features and considerations made in the architecture of orthosis designs, emphasizing lower extremity orthoses for the case of knee joint analysis. A literature review of active and passive knee orthoses manufactured from the 1970s to the present was carried out, considering aspects such as manufacturing materials, mechanical systems, types of actuators, and control strategies. This review shows that the designs and development of orthoses have been abundant in these devices for lower limbs. Based on the literature collected, we have studied the main robotic devices focusing on the characteristics of design, manufacturing, and control systems to assist in human locomotion and support in rehabilitation processes.

Dynamic control simulation of a new lower limb prosthesis model with energy recovery during walking, using magnetorheological fluids

“…Current research addresses the need for more energy during push-offs to propel the body forward and is directed toward ankle prostheses, in which active components achieve this [10][11][12]. However, the downside to these models is the degree of increase in ankle size and weight is generally determined by the amount of power the actuator provides to propel the body forward.…”

Use of high-performance polymeric materials in customized low-cost robotic grippers for biomechatronic applications: experimental and analytical research

“…A wide range of materials is nowadays available on the market, each offering particular advantages and disadvantages in the realization of biomechatronic devices (Segil, 2018;Barrera et al, 2022). High-performance FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) materials, including but not limited to PEKK, has garnered significant attention for their outstanding mechanical properties (Wasti and Adhikari, 2020;Luo et al, 2023;Nguyen et al, 2023).…”

Hierarchical Classification of Subject-Cooperative Control Strategies for Lower Limb Exoskeletons in Gait Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

“…Moreover, the significant benefits of the manual therapy are lost if ever the process is withdrawn for even a short period [3]. Therefore, to address the limitations of conventional methods, the proliferation of exoskeleton technology has been observed for lower-limb rehabilitation [4][5][6][7][8].…”