Design and evaluation of the gait rehabilitation robot LOPES

Abstract

The goal of the work presented in this thesis was to realize a robotic device that is able provide suitable gait training to stroke patients. It is believed that motor training in general, but specifically for stroke patients should be intensive and task-specific in order to reach optimal outcome. Meanwhile, the training of severe stroke patients has proven to be physically very demanding to therapists. For this reason it is believed that robotic aids can be useful alternative for physical therapists to provide gait training. In this research we supposed a training setting in which a therapist is in control of the training, while the robot carries out the physical labor in guiding, assisting and correcting the patient.