Robo shoes help stroke patients learn to walk again

Engineers from the University of South Florida introduced a footwear that helps a stroke patient learn to walk again and keep balance.

Stroke, a violation of cerebral circulation, is accompanied by paralysis of one side of the body - this, in turn, leads to an asymmetric gait. With such violations, it is difficult for the patient to move around and keep balance.

To rehabilitate patients who survived a stroke, engineers created a robotic boot that is worn on a “healthy” leg, lengthening it. This causes the patient to increase stride length and hyperbolize gait asymmetry.

According to the authors of the development, the patient will try to compensate for the exaggerated asymmetry - gradually this will allow him to learn how to walk freely and keep balance.

Earlier, engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology created a thin and flexible robot that can penetrate the blood vessels of the brain and remove clots that clog them, the presence of which leads to strokes and aneurysms.

hightech.fm