Low-Profile Jamming Technology for Medical Rehabilitation

Integrating novel feedback mechanisms into wearable devices could support medical rehabilitation applications and enhance existing interaction methods. One such feedback mechanism is layer jamming, which can be used to alter material stiffness in real time under computer control. Jamming can be integrated into smart garments, allowing clothing to adapt to environmental conditions or support a particular user task. For example, a person with a knee injury that requires restricted movement for their treatment would normally wear a knee brace. Layer jamming-enabled smart pants can be integrated as part of the treatment to restrict both speed and angular movement of the affected joint during recovery. This article explores the use of smart materials that combine low-profile jamming with clothing items for computer-controlled material stiffness. The authors present a current prototype system that employs jamming technology for this variable stiffness function and discuss future applications.