Ankle Injury Rehabilitation Robot (AIRR): Review of Strengths and Opportunities Based on a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis

Abstract

Generally, severity, any additional damage to the joint surface, and the optimal rehabilitation influence the recovery of an ankle injury. Optimal rehabilitation is the only approach for a human to heal as soon as possible. Ankle injury rehabilitation robots (AIRRs) are designed to fulfil the ideal rehabilitation by providing the required accuracy, consistency, and repeatability, compared to conventional rehabilitation methods. This review is to explore the performance of the existing AIRR using a SWOT analysis with a focus on the strengths and opportunities of an AIRR. Sources from journals and conference papers are selected for review after several screenings, according to the search conditions set by the authors. The results have shown a large group of AIRRs could accomplish all basic ankle motions and select parallel mechanisms to drive the foot platform. Most AIRRs provides crucial feedback sensors, such as position, torque, and angle. These factors determine the accuracy of the foot platform. Both the electrical/pneumatic actuation and wearable/platform-based AIRRs have their purpose for rehabilitation and must be considered as equal contributions to ankle injury rehabilitation research using robots. Opportunities to provide innovation to the already established AIRR research still exist in the ability to accommodate complex motion ankle rehabilitation exercises and to establish teaching and playback into the rehabilitation procedures for AIRRs. In general, the existing strengths of AIRRs provide advantages to patients where they can enhance the rehabilitation procedures while opportunities and knowledge gaps for AIRR research are still open to improvement.