made of rubber, futto is a wearable support gear that helps users walk and improves posture

launching futto as a muscle support gear made of rubber

After working in the rehabilitation field for many years, Yoshihiro Yamada launched Futto, a wearable rubber gear that supports and ‘replaces’ the muscles necessary for walking. The rehabilitation device comprises a main support belt and two pairs of straps designed to ‘hug’ the outline of a patient’s leg muscles. futto is especially useful for those recovering from sports injuries as well as the elderly, offering them a support system that facilitates walking while strengthening their weak points. This device is worn under the guidance of a physiotherapist or similar specialist who assists patients in their recovery journey at every step. 

‘Luckily, from my experience teaching functional training at a nursing home, I knew very well which part of the body moves when certain muscles get activated. If the muscles for walking do not move or are difficult to move, where in the body should the rubber be passed like an auxiliary wire? I was able to find the answer as well. This is how the skeletal muscle support gear Futto was born,’ Yamada writes. 

futto is composed of a belt and four rubber straps

Weighing only 280 grams, the Futto rubber gear features an abdominal belt and two straps for each leg: a front strap that gets hooked under the patient’s toes and a back strap that hugs the sole of one’s feet. Once set up, the rubber bands begin contracting on all sides (front, back, left, and right), creating the proper tension to ‘straighten’ the patient’s posture and support their steps: according to the company, the increase in abdominal pressure caused by the corset and rubber stabilizes the lower limbs, stretches the spine, and thus corrects a patient’s posture. ‘Since the posture that leads to improvement can be naturally made, the exercise effect increases,’ notes Yamada. 

a three-step mechanism that helps patient walk

Step 1: When patients try to raise their legs, their thighs naturally lift thanks to the futto’s support of the iliopsoas muscles. At the same time, their knees and heels are pulled up to prevent skidding. Throughout that first step, the pivot foot is kept stable, giving patients proper anchoring while trying to walk forward or backward.

Step 2: When trying to hit their heels to the floor, the tibialis anterior muscle support naturally raises the patient’s toes, preventing tripping and falling. ‘Also, by supporting the muscles of the buttocks, the posture at the time of landing will be improved,’ continues Yamada.

Step 3: Repeating the contraction of all four Futto rubber bands makes each next step feel more natural. Furthermore, by widening their stride and lowering their center of gravity, patients will eventually have the power to move forward and increase their walking speed when wearing the gear. 

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project info:

name: Futto 

design: Yoshihiro Yamada

function: Skeletal muscle support gear

material: Rubber 

weight: 280 grams