Lower-extremity hemiparesis, characterized by weakness or partial paralysis on one side of the body, significantly impacts a vast majority of stroke survivors. As a result, physical therapy intervention is crucial for the successful recovery and rehabilitation of a patient's gait cycle. During these sessions, physical therapists implement corrective...

Background Adaptive materials—materials able to change their properties based on certain stimuli—can provide valuable modes of actuation for many applications. Development of these materials has derived much inspiration from muscle tissue, which is robust and adaptable owing to its inherent hierarchical structure, from molecules to proteins...