Lightweight Active Soft Back Exosuit for Construction Workers in Lifting Tasks

Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 150(7)

Published: May 8, 2024

Low back pain (LBP) is prevalent among construction workers, which causes many LBP sufferers, and consequently leads to corresponding economic skilled workforce losses. Back exoskeletons are verified be effective in low load damage reduction, but existing devices restricted by bulky size, heavy weight, high price. This study proposes a lightweight active soft exosuit assist workers with overexertion prevention lifting tasks, the actuator innovatively based on McKibben air muscle. prioritizes its lightweight, compacted flexibility, good breathability, cost, providing support as needed. The maximal injected gas pressure of pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) 0.20 MPa, each PAM provides maximum contraction force 116 N. A biomechanics evaluation suggests can provide assistive moment up 54.08 N·m. Human subject testing shows significant electromyographic (EMG) signal reduction at longissimus (LG) multifidus (MF) proposed exosuit, was helpful reducing mental physical demand effort. results suggest great potential this serve management terms worker

Language: Английский

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Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers

Applied Ergonomics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 122, P. 104400 - 104400

Published: Oct. 9, 2024

Language: Английский

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Can back exosuits simultaneously increase lifting endurance and reduce musculoskeletal disorder risk?

Published: July 14, 2023

Can back exosuits simultaneously increase lifting endurance and reduce musculoskeletal disorder risk?

Language: Английский

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A Smart, Textile-Driven, Soft Exosuit for Spinal Assistance

Sensors, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(19), P. 8329 - 8329

Published: Oct. 9, 2023

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are often caused by repetitive lifting, making them a significant concern in occupational health. Although wearable assist devices have become the norm for mitigating risk of back pain, most spinal still possess partially rigid structure that impacts user's comfort and flexibility. This paper addresses this issue presenting smart textile-actuated spine assistance robotic exosuit (SARE), which can conform to seamlessly without impeding movement is incredibly lightweight. To detect strain on control textile automatically, soft knitting sensor utilizes fluid pressure as sensing element used. Based hydraulic sensor, also feature ability monitoring rectifying human posture. The SARE validated experimentally with subjects (N = 4). Through wearing stoop peak electromyography (EMG) signals lumbar erector spinae reduced 22.8% ± 12 lifting 5 kg weights 27.1% 14 empty-handed conditions. Moreover, integrated EMG decreased 34.7% 11.8 36% 13.3 In summary, artificial muscle device represents an anatomical solution reduce strain, metabolic energy cost pain associated tasks.

Language: Английский

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Musculoskeletal models determine the effect of a soft active exosuit on muscle activations and forces during lifting and lowering tasks

Journal of Biomechanics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 176, P. 112322 - 112322

Published: Sept. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

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Lightweight active back exosuit reduces muscular effort during an hour-long order picking task

Published: May 14, 2024

Occupational back exoskeletons and exosuits aim to reduce low injuries in the workplace. For these technologies be adopted, it is important that they provide biomechanical benefits wearer do not disrupt job performance. To address this challenge, here we developed a lightweight, soft, active exosuit can autonomously control virtual impedance apply differing assistance during lowering lifting. This video highlight reviews some factors were considered development of our soft actuation strategy. Despite noted limitations approach, how decisions contributed results presented Nature Communications Engineering demonstrate: In usability tests, participants rated as easy learn use reported feeling confident while wearing it. an experiment involving hour long order picking task demonstrated reduced peak median muscle activations by 18% 20%, respectively. complexity movements required, such walking, bending, navigating around obstacles lifting boxes from under rack, controller impressive robustness with only 14 mistriggers out 9600 lifts (0.1%). Collectively hope review highlights technology iterated potential highly usable solution aid warehouse workers real-world settings.

Language: Английский

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Efficacy of American physical therapy clinical practice guidelines in treating lower back pain among track and field athletes

Theoretical and Natural Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 37(1), P. 229 - 234

Published: June 21, 2024

Lower back pain has a significant impact on track and field athletes, affecting their performance quality of life. This study explores the application American Physical Therapy Clinical Practice Guidelines (APTA Guidelines) in management lower at this level. The physical therapy United States, which history over 75 years, includes unarmed therapy, coordination, muscle endurance training, hip mobility stretching exercises, limb nerve surgery, traction... It provides solid framework for treatment pain. In paper, we explore these methods context competitions evaluate effectiveness meeting specific needs athletes. addition, also verified research status incidence low identified its causes, proposed an effective scheme using massage, acupuncture moxibustion treatment, therapeutic sports other methods. results indicate that use APTA guidelines can significantly alleviate athletes pain, helping them better perform recover. helps to further discuss how improve clinical practice manage injuries.

Language: Английский

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Does a Soft Actuated Back Exosuit Influence Multimodal Physiological Measurements and User Perception During an Industry Inspired Task?

Published: Sept. 24, 2023

Back support soft exosuits are promising solutions to reduce risk of musculoskeletal injuries at workplaces resulting from physically demanding and repetitive lifting tasks. Design novel active address the impact on muscle activity metabolic costs but do not consider other critical aspects such as comfort user perception during intended Thus, in this study, we describe a exosuit line with its physiological subjective measures lifting. We tested four healthy participants who performed tasks without exosuit. The provided assistance proportional lumbar flexion angle measured using an inertial measurement unit. participant's multimodal including surface electromyography, cost, heart rate, skin temperature. also scores exertion, task load, device acceptability. All perceived reduction load when Three showed for erector spinae muscles. rate reserve reduced two participants, similar trends For future development workplace exosuits, recommend incorporating assessments both measures, considering user-dependent response

Language: Английский

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Can back exosuits simultaneously increase lifting endurance and reduce musculoskeletal disorder risk?

Published: July 14, 2023

<p>Back exosuits are wearable technologies designed to make lifting easier and reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorder risks by relieving low back strain. The study objective was test whether an elastic exosuit could increase a wearer’s endurance when heavy objects, if so, assess more cancels out the exosuit’s risk reduction benefits. We performed two case series studies with field artillery Soldiers from U.S. Army who frequently lift objects. These participants repeatedly lifted 45-55 kg until failure. counted number of repetitions evaluate their vs. without exosuit. found that seven eight increased while wearing exosuit, increases ranging 28-75%. then used these empirical data ergonomics assessment tool model effects on is worn lifts performed. Participants exhibited 34-89% lower cumulative damage (an indicator risk) results confirmed physical capacity perform work canceling injury Ergonomic models indicate achieve dual benefits—performance enhancement reduction—it better repetitions, not weight objects being lifted. have important implications for workers in civilian defense sectors, suggesting may it possible simultaneously boost productivity risks.</p>

Language: Английский

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Integrating exosuit capabilities into clothing to make back relief accessible to workers unserved by existing exoskeletons: design and preliminary evaluation

Published: July 17, 2023

<p>Background: Occupational exos (rigid exoskeletons and soft exosuits) are emerging technologies designed to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Existing occupational standalone accessories worn on top a user’s clothing. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Purpose: Our objective was demonstrate that back-assist exosuit capabilities can be integrated into regular clothing, which could make relief accessible more workers. <p>Methods: We redesigned previously validated accessory so it integrate standard-issue U.S. Army uniform. The uniform-integrated prototype low-profile (protruding <30 mm from body), lightweight (adding 800 grams uniform), donned/doffed like normal demonstrated functionality feasibility in lab testing (<em>N</em>=5) case study (<em>N=</em>1) with Soldier.</p> <p>Results: In (<em>N</em>=5), this provided 18-27 Nm torque about low back during lifting. Assistance engaged or disengaged one-handed half second, did not restrict natural range motion cause discomfort. A (<em>N</em>=1) Soldier performing operationally relevant tasks type may well-suited for workers duties involve driving vehicles intermittent <p>Conclusions: This work possible—after substantial redesign existing exosuits—to these standard workwear little change form factor, weight, motion, comfort. new sub-class beneficial who alternate between bending, lifting, sitting tasks, those customer- patient-facing jobs where is important wearable technology discreet.

Language: Английский

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