Robot-assisted leg training.

Background

The idea of using a robot for leg training emerged through the author’s experience from rehabilitating from Patella Tendinopathy. There was raised a desire to expedite the rehabilitation.

Purpose

To examine how to use RoboTrainer-Light for robot-assisted leg training with different advanced exercises and develop a training program for an optimized rehabilitation of Patella Tendinopathy.

Method

Through the iterative process of action research it was possible to continuously improve the training setup which was fundamental for the developing process of the training program. Firstly, a throughout analysis of physiology and biomechanics of the knee and Patella Tendinopathy were made. Then different advanced leg exercises were investigated with EMG and afterwards the RoboTrainer-Light was investigated thoroughly to understand its specifications and limitations. Lastly, the training setup was developed through several tests and made the foundation for the training program.

Results

The training program is designed to let the athlete begin rehabilitation with HSR-training earlier by unloading the body weight when performing advanced exercises with the training setup. The training setup lets the athlete choose the unloading weight in eccentric and concentric phase of the exercises. The training setup unloads the athlete by measuring the velocity to identify the phase and thereby setting the unloading weight produced by RoboTrainer-light.

Conclusion

The training program provides the possibility for the athlete to begin rehabilitation of Patella Tendinopathy with advanced exercises earlier than conventional rehabilitation and thereby optimizing the rehabilitation process. Further investigation of the training program is needed to document the effects of it.

Contacts

jrasa16@student.sdu.dk