Design and Development of a Continuous Passive Motion Device for Physiotherapeutic Treatment of Human Knee

Abstract

Success of post-operative and post-traumatic therapy and rehabilitation of conditions related to major joints typically requires continuous passive movement of the affected joint. Physiotherapeutic devices are commonly used to promote rehabilitation of damaged or injured synovial joints. The research work aims to develop an assisted motion device for the physiotherapeutic treatment of the human knee joint. A cam-follower mechanism is proposed to reproduce actual gait cycle with varying flexion and extension of knee joint. The proposed model defines the passive motion device in terms of an improvised range of motion similar to the variation of the knee angle during normal walking gait cycle. Experiments are conducted on the proposed device to verify its angle variation and ease of use for the patients. The intuitive device finds its application in knee joint rehabilitation after knee replacement surgeries, fractures, injuries and other knee joint diseases to facilitate joint flexibility and promote well-being. The demonstrated works lays the groundwork for the prospective passive knee models and prosthesis design