Robot-assisted Rehabilitation of Ankle Fractures: Efficacy and Comparison With Traditional Methods

ARBOT is a programmable robotic device consisting in a two-degree-of-freedom electromechanical platform developed by Italian Institute of Technology - Advanced Robotics and Rehab Technologies. It is composed of a fixed base, a central strut, a moving platform supporting patient's foot and three actuated limbs with a universal-prismatic-spherical kinematic chain. A six-axis force/torque sensor mounted between the moving platform and the footplate senses the human-robot interaction force and torque. The device is interfaced to a standard all-in-one touch screen Personal Computer with graphic applications to give patients visual feedback in real time.

All patients underwent general rehabilitation (gait training, aerobic conditioning), including - if necessary - an initial weight training phase before the functional full weight-bearing program.

Subjects in the control group underwent manually assisted range of motion exercises.

Subjects in the control group performed non-robotic resistive training using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer

Subjects in the control group performed non-robotic proprioceptive training using a ProKin PK254 mobile electronic platform.