Wearable robots to improve mobility and reduce pain

Abnormal gait is common and can affect mobility, posture and quality of life. At the Smart Mechatronics Lab in the Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics at Meiji University, Senior Assistant Professor Taku Itami is harnessing his background as an engineer to develop smart support devices that can help people, including Japan’s ageing society, who require extra support to maintain independence and a pain-free life. Itami and the team have developed walking shoes that can help people, young and old, who experience joint pain in their knees. By focusing on the posture of the ankle during the contact of the heel with the ground and ensuring correct posture at this juncture to ensure the load is properly distributed over the whole foot, the researchers have developed shoes that can correct the ankle posture and encourage a normal, painless gait. Through his work developing systems and devices, Itami wants to support a long-term improvement in quality of life for those experiencing reduced function due to ageing or injury. This is an increasingly prevalent concern in line with the ageing of societies in developed countries. Wearable robots could be key to mitigating these pressing concerns providing they can be developed with the ability to allow voluntary movement and prevent a decline in residual functions. Weight of devices is a key consideration as much existing technology relies on large and heavy servo motors and compressors.