A prototype rehabilitation device with variable resistance and joint motion control

Resistance exercise has been widely reported to have positive rehabilitation effects for patients with neuromuscular and orthopaedic conditions. This paper presents the design of a versatile rehabilitation device in the form of a rotating joint arm mounted on the adjustable seat that provides passive resistance during strength training for muscles. The resistance is supplied by a magnetorheological damper. Intelligent controls are developed to produce resistance force based on the prescription of the therapist. The device provides both isometric and isokinetic strength training and is reconfigurable for several human joints. Special consideration has been given to the human-machine interaction in the adaptive control algorithms that can modify the behavior of the device to account for strength gains or muscle fatigue.