At the 2005 co-located meetings of the American Academy of
Orthotists & Prosthetists and the Association of Children’s
Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC), Ammanath Peethambaran, CO,
University of Michigan, and Mark Taylor, CPO, University of
Michigan, described the development of a therapeutic AFO powered by
artificial pneumatic muscles. The lightweight carbon-fiber
orthosis, which provides mechanical assistance during locomotor
training, is powered by two artificial pneumatic muscles that
supply dorsiflexor and plantarflexor torques.
