Team Members: Yazan Wazwaz, Noura Mrowat

Supervisors / Mentors: Dr. Shimon Mizrahi

 

Weakness in the muscles that control the ankle - particularly the tibialis anterior and posterior - can significantly limit mobility and quality of life, especially for individuals recovering from sports injuries, overexertion, or neurological conditions such as stroke. These muscles are essential not only for ankle stabilization but also for supporting knee function, with studies showing that approximately 25% of adults suffer from knee pain. Current rehabilitation approaches are often clinic-based and require supervision, which limits long-term adherence and accessibility. This project addresses this gap by developing an affordable, portable, and user-friendly ankle rehabilitation device that enables self-guided muscle training at home.

The device combines mechanical, electronic, and software components to provide a comprehensive training platform. At its core is a digitally controlled DC motor paired with a 1:2 gear ratio to amplify torque output, enabling resistance-based ankle movements. A GY-521 sensor measures acceleration and angular velocity in three axes, allowing the system to compute the ankle's angular position relative to its neutral state. Load cells that measure the forces applied to the foot are used to monitor movement and ensure safety. All sensor data is processed using an ESP32 microcontroller, which also handles wireless communication via Bluetooth.

A custom mobile application complements the hardware by allowing users to pair with the device, define their pain-free range of motion, and monitor their progress, with different training modes and data logging.

Preliminary testing indicates that the system effectively guides ankle motion while providing real-time feedback on angle and force metrics.