Development of foot rehabilitation device that can identify and stretch the shortening muscles

• Project/Area Number: 17K13108
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Aichi Medical College for Physical and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Naomi 愛知医療学院短期大学, 理学療法学専攻, 助教 (40779071)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
• Keywords: リハビリテーション機器 / ストレッチング / 機器開発 / 足部 / 自動機械 / 三次元制動 / 内反尖足 / 短縮筋 / 足部ストレッチング / 筋張力推定 / 医療・福祉 / リハビリテーション / 福祉工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to develop an automatic stretching device for the foots which have three-dimensional freedom. Although a wire-driven device had been supposed at the beginning for the three-dimensional control of the foot , a one-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) stretching device was produced experimentally which was driven by a pneumatic actuator. This device performed a foot static stretching sufficiently. By performing foot dorsiflexion stretching using this 1-DOF stretching device, the range of motion of the ankle joint of healthy young people and the elderly increased significantly. By using the ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system to measure the stretched muscle, the effect of static stretching by this device was shown biomechanically.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

三次元的足部変形に関与する短縮筋の同定のため，複雑な動きを有する機器が必要と考えていたが，本研究での実験により，一自由度のストレッチング機器でも十分に効果の高い足部ストレッチングを行えることが示された．このことは，より安価で操作が容易なストレッチング機器を開発することの一助となる．在宅リハビリテーションの必要性が高まっている現在，本機器を市場投入することができれば，誰もが在宅で継続的に効果の高い足部ストレッチングを実施することが可能になり，生活の質の向上につなげることができる．

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Ankle stretching rehabilitation machine for equinovarus: Design and evaluation from clinical aspects (2017)
  • Author(s): 〇Yamada Naomi、Okamoto Shogo、Akiyama Yasuhiro、Isogai Kaoru、Yamada Yoji
  • Journal Title: 2017 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Volume: - Pages: 1687-1692
  • DOI: 10.1109/smc.2017.8122858
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 健常高齢者に対する足部自動ストレッチング機器の有効性検証 (2019)
  • Author(s): 山田南欧美、橋本千里、後藤華奈、白石雄馬、岡本正吾、秋山靖博、山田陽滋
  • Organizer: 第8回日本支援工学理学療法学会学術大会
• [Presentation] 足部自動ストレッチング機器による足部背屈ストレッチングが健常高齢者の腓腹筋筋腱複合体に及ぼす影響 超音波画像診断装置を用いた検討 (2019)
  • Author(s): 山田南欧美、橋本千里、後藤華奈、白石雄馬、岡本正吾、秋山靖博、山田陽滋
  • Organizer: 第24回日本基礎理学療法学会学術大会
• [Presentation] Ankle stretching rehabilitation machine for equinovarus: Design and evaluation from clinical aspects (2017)
  • Author(s): 〇Yamada Naomi、Okamoto Shogo、Akiyama Yasuhiro、Isogai Kaoru、Yamada Yoji
  • Organizer: 2017 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC)
  • Int'l Joint Research