A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications

This article presents a comprehensive review of assistive devices for synovial joints, addressing their definitions, classifications, and technological advancements. The historical evolution of artificial exoskeletons, orthoses, prostheses, and splints is analyzed, emphasizing their impact on rehabi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Filiberto Cruz-Flores, Ana L. Sánchez-Brito, Rafael Campos Amezcua, Agustín Barrera Sánchez, Héctor R. Azcaray Rivera, Arturo J. Martínez Mata, Andrés Blanco Ortega
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Technologies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/7/292
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849251827152846848
author Filiberto Cruz-Flores
Ana L. Sánchez-Brito
Rafael Campos Amezcua
Agustín Barrera Sánchez
Héctor R. Azcaray Rivera
Arturo J. Martínez Mata
Andrés Blanco Ortega
author_facet Filiberto Cruz-Flores
Ana L. Sánchez-Brito
Rafael Campos Amezcua
Agustín Barrera Sánchez
Héctor R. Azcaray Rivera
Arturo J. Martínez Mata
Andrés Blanco Ortega
author_sort Filiberto Cruz-Flores
collection DOAJ
description This article presents a comprehensive review of assistive devices for synovial joints, addressing their definitions, classifications, and technological advancements. The historical evolution of artificial exoskeletons, orthoses, prostheses, and splints is analyzed, emphasizing their impact on rehabilitation and the enhancement of human mobility. Through a systematic compilation of scientific literature, patents, and medical regulations, the study clarifies terminology and classifications that have often been imprecisely used in scientific discourse. The review examines the biomechanical principles of the musculoskeletal system and the kinematics of synovial joints, providing a reference framework for the optimization and design of these devices. Furthermore, it explores the various types of artificial exoskeletons, and their classification based on structure, mobility, power source, and control system, as well as their applications in medical, industrial, and military domains. Finally, this study highlights the necessity of a systematic approach in the design and categorization of these technologies to facilitate their development, comparison, and effective implementation, ultimately improving users’ quality of life.
format Article
id doaj-art-0e2db39cbd9c4e1b8afb789a7a90cafd
institution Kabale University
issn 2227-7080
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Technologies
spelling doaj-art-0e2db39cbd9c4e1b8afb789a7a90cafd2025-08-20T03:56:47ZengMDPI AGTechnologies2227-70802025-07-0113729210.3390/technologies13070292A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and ClassificationsFiliberto Cruz-Flores0Ana L. Sánchez-Brito1Rafael Campos Amezcua2Agustín Barrera Sánchez3Héctor R. Azcaray Rivera4Arturo J. Martínez Mata5Andrés Blanco Ortega6Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/CENIDET, Interior Int, Palmira s/n. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca 62490, Morelos, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/CENIDET, Interior Int, Palmira s/n. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca 62490, Morelos, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/CENIDET, Interior Int, Palmira s/n. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca 62490, Morelos, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/CENIDET, Interior Int, Palmira s/n. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca 62490, Morelos, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Electrónica, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Oaxaca de Juárez 68033, Oaxaca, MexicoDepartamento de Metalmecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Zacatepec, Zacatepec 62780, Morelos, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Tecnológico Nacional de México/CENIDET, Interior Int, Palmira s/n. Col. Palmira, Cuernavaca 62490, Morelos, MexicoThis article presents a comprehensive review of assistive devices for synovial joints, addressing their definitions, classifications, and technological advancements. The historical evolution of artificial exoskeletons, orthoses, prostheses, and splints is analyzed, emphasizing their impact on rehabilitation and the enhancement of human mobility. Through a systematic compilation of scientific literature, patents, and medical regulations, the study clarifies terminology and classifications that have often been imprecisely used in scientific discourse. The review examines the biomechanical principles of the musculoskeletal system and the kinematics of synovial joints, providing a reference framework for the optimization and design of these devices. Furthermore, it explores the various types of artificial exoskeletons, and their classification based on structure, mobility, power source, and control system, as well as their applications in medical, industrial, and military domains. Finally, this study highlights the necessity of a systematic approach in the design and categorization of these technologies to facilitate their development, comparison, and effective implementation, ultimately improving users’ quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/7/292exoskeletonorthosisprosthesissplintsynovial jointmovements
spellingShingle Filiberto Cruz-Flores
Ana L. Sánchez-Brito
Rafael Campos Amezcua
Agustín Barrera Sánchez
Héctor R. Azcaray Rivera
Arturo J. Martínez Mata
Andrés Blanco Ortega
A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
Technologies
exoskeleton
orthosis
prosthesis
splint
synovial joint
movements
title A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
title_full A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
title_fullStr A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
title_short A Review of Assistive Devices in Synovial Joints: Records, Trends, and Classifications
title_sort review of assistive devices in synovial joints records trends and classifications
topic exoskeleton
orthosis
prosthesis
splint
synovial joint
movements
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/7/292
work_keys_str_mv AT filibertocruzflores areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT analsanchezbrito areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT rafaelcamposamezcua areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT agustinbarrerasanchez areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT hectorrazcarayrivera areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT arturojmartinezmata areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT andresblancoortega areviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT filibertocruzflores reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT analsanchezbrito reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT rafaelcamposamezcua reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT agustinbarrerasanchez reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT hectorrazcarayrivera reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT arturojmartinezmata reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications
AT andresblancoortega reviewofassistivedevicesinsynovialjointsrecordstrendsandclassifications