JFPS International Journal of Fluid Power System
Online ISSN : 1881-5286
ISSN-L : 1881-5286
Paper
Development of Pneumatic Walking Support Shoes using Potential Energy of Human
Masahiro TAKAIWAToshiro NORITSUGU
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2009 Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 51-56

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Abstract

Among the elderly person, most of their injuries are reported to be caused by falling down with stumbling. It is due to their shuffling walking style resulted from deterioration of their dorsiflexion muscle force along with aging. Walking plays an important role in their independent day life. In this study, we aim at developing a wearable walking support equipment embedded into shoes for a purpose of fall prevention of elderly person. A commercial product of Ankle Foot Orthosis is introduced and newly developed wire type pneumatic actuator is equipped on to support dorsiflexion motion during swing period at walking motion actively. In generally, these kind of active supporting systems require power source. We propose a driving scheme with no use of electric power, but with only potential energy of the wearer. Required specifications for the equipment are derived and the validity of proposed walking support shoes is verified through some experiments

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© 2009 The Japan Fluid Power System Society
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