Scientists have created lightweight and low-profile soft robotic ankle supports that could help stroke patients walk with less difficulty and more normal strides. More than 7 million Americans are stroke survivors, and a vast majority of affected individuals never fully recover the ability to walk.
Recent advances in robotic technologies have shown promise for walking rehabilitation, but most assistive exosuits are rigid, bulky contraptions that are impractical for people to wear during everyday activities. In search of a better alternative, Louis Awad and colleagues developed a soft robotic ankle-support system weighing 0.9 kg (roughly twice as heavy as a soccer ball) to be worn on one side of the body.
