Configuration design of ankle rehabilitation robots: a systematic review and future prospects.

Ya Liu, Wenjuan Lu, Yunjiao Deng, Shuai Wang, Yulei Hou, Daxing Zeng

Abstract readSystematic Review

In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ya LiuSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China.

Wenjuan LuSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China.

Yunjiao DengSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China.

Shuai WangSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China.

Yulei HouSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, China.

Daxing ZengSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China. zengdx@dgut.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of China 2023A1515012103Key Scientific Research Platforms and Projects of Guangdong Regular Institutions of Higher Education of China 2022KCXTD033

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Compared to traditional therapist-assisted rehabilitation training, ankle rehabilitation robots (ARRs) can offer a wider variety of active and passive training strategies for stroke and fracture patients. This enhances patient recovery outcomes and efficiency while reducing physical exertion for therapists, thereby conserving rehabilitation medical resources. This paper first summarizes the current research status on the equivalent models of the human ankle, aiming to better reproduce its motion functions in the development of ARRs. Secondly, it systematically retrieves and screens literature on the configuration design of ARRs from databases including Web of Science, Engineering Village, and IEEE Xplore. Thirdly, from the perspective of configuration design, the existing ARRs are divided into five categories: based on classical parallel mechanisms, with spherical pair or universal joint limb, based on remote center-of-motion mechanisms, human-machine compatible types, and other types. Finally, the characteristics of each ARR category are summarized, the current challenges and future prospects faced by ARRs are highlighted, and the limitations of this paper are also discussed. This paper systematically reviews the research status of configuration design of ARRs, pointing out that shortcomings still exist in areas such as human-machine compatibility. Future efforts should further integrate the biomechanical characteristics of the ankle to deepen innovative design of human-machine compatible configurations.

Indexed as

AnkleEquipment DesignRoboticsBiomechanical PhenomenaHumansStroke RehabilitationAnkle jointConfiguration designEquivalent modelParallel mechanismRehabilitation robot

Identifiers

PMID41254731

DOI10.1186/s12984-025-01786-7

PMCPMC12625126

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.