Hip Exoskeleton Based Trans-multi-articular Gait Intervention: Preliminary Study on Achilles Tendon Rehabilitation

The rupture of the Achilles Tendon (AT) is a prevalent affliction among athletic populations. The patients who process AT repair frequently exhibit a deficit in the activation and strength of the gastrocnemius muscle. The exoskeleton can help with the patients gait training, especially perform effectively interventions during walking. However, the ankle exoskeleton is not suitable for acute-phase gait training, and the knee exoskeleton may have the possibility of downward migration. To address this issue and facilitate the early-stage rehabilitation of the gastrocnemius, this paper proposes a trans-multi-articular gait intervention strategy. Preliminary study on healthy subjects suggests that the implementation of extension resistance during the hip extension phase of the gait cycle can contribute to an increment in the strength of the ankle plantar flexion muscle. Future research will focus on the effectiveness of the proposed therapy strategy in practical application to patients.