Abstract
The
objectives
of
this
case
series
study
were
to
test
whether
an
elastic
back
exosuit
could
increase
a
wearer’s
endurance
when
lifting
heavy
objects
and
assess
more
cancels
out
the
exosuit’s
risk
reduction
benefits.
We
found
that
88%
participants
increased
their
repetitions
while
wearing
exosuit,
with
increases
ranging
from
28
75%.
then
used
these
empirical
data
ergonomic
assessment
model
based
on
fatigue
failure
principles
estimate
effects
cumulative
damage
(an
indicator
low
disorder
risk)
is
worn
lifts
are
performed.
Participants
exhibited
27–93%
lower
exosuit.
These
results
confirmed
participants’
capacity
without
canceling
injury
Back
exosuits
may
make
it
possible
simultaneously
boost
productivity
reduce
musculoskeletal
risks,
which
relevant
workers
in
civilian
defense
sectors.
Communications Engineering,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
3(1)
Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2024
Abstract
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.
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.
Despite
complexity
of
movements
required,
such
walking,
bending,
navigating
around
obstacles
lifting
boxes
from
under
rack,
our
controller
impressive
robustness
with
only
14
mistriggers
out
9600
lifts
(0.1%).
The
results
research
suggest
technology
has
potential
highly
usable
solution
aid
warehouse
workers
real-world
settings.
Ergonomics,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown, С. 1 - 14
Опубликована: Фев. 22, 2024
Back
support
exosuits
aim
to
reduce
tissue
demands
and
thereby
risk
of
injury
pain.
However,
biomechanical
analyses
soft
active
exosuit
designs
have
been
limited.
The
objective
this
study
was
evaluate
the
effect
a
back
on
trunk
motion
thoracolumbar
spine
loading
in
participants
performing
stoop
squat
lifts
6
10
kg
crates,
using
participant-specific
musculoskeletal
models.
did
not
change
overall
but
affected
lumbo-pelvic
slightly,
reduced
peak
compressive
shear
vertebral
loads
at
some
levels,
although
increased
slightly
others.
This
indicates
that
limited
kinematic
effects
during
lifting,
can
spinal
depending
level.
These
results
hypothesis
assist
without
limiting
movement
or
negatively
impacting
skeletal
implications
for
future
design
ergonomic
intervention
efforts.
Elastic
textiles
play
a
critical
role
in
passive
wearable
solutions
for
musculoskeletal
load
management
both
exosuits
and
resistance
clothing.
These
textiles,
based
on
their
ability
to
stretch
retract,
can
exhibit
ambivalence
load-modulating
effects
when
used
occupational,
rehabilitation,
exercise,
or
everyday
activity
settings.
While
garments
may
appear
similar
design,
they
have
opposing
goals:
reduce
the
case
of
increase
it
Despite
this
intrinsic
connection,
these
two
approaches
not
been
extensively
linked
together.
This
review
aims
fill
gap
by
examining
common
distinct
principles
elastic
clothing,
shedding
light
interactions
complex
dynamics
systems.
The
effectiveness
different
designs
that
mimic
function
clothing
workload
strength
training
are
critically
reviewed.
Current
challenges
practical
implementation
opportunities
improve
issues,
such
as
preload,
thermal
comfort,
skin
friction,
donning
doffing
also
highlighted.
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
15(1)
Опубликована: Март 29, 2025
Back
exoskeletons
are
gaining
attention
for
preventing
occupational
back
injuries,
but
they
can
disrupt
movement,
a
burden
that
risks
abandonment.
Enhanced
adaptability
is
proposed
to
mitigate
burdens,
perceptual
benefits
less
known.
This
study
investigates
the
and
biomechanical
impacts
of
SLACK
suit
(non-assistive)
controller
versus
three
controllers
with
varying
adaptability:
Weight-Direction-Angle
adaptive
(WDA-ADPT)
scales
assistance
based
on
weight
boxes
using
chest-mounted
camera
machine
learning
algorithm,
movement
direction,
trunk
flexion
angle,
standard
Direction-Angle
(DA-ADPT)
Angle
(A-ADPT)
controllers.
Fifteen
participants
performed
variable
(2,
8,
14
kg)
box-transfer
task.
WDA-ADPT
achieved
highest
score
(88%)
across
survey
categories
reduced
peak
extensor
(BE)
muscle
amplitudes
by
10.1%.
DA-ADPT
had
slightly
lower
(76%)
BE
reduction
(8.5%).
A-ADPT
induced
hip
restriction,
which
could
explain
lowest
(55%)
despite
providing
largest
reductions
in
activity
(17.3%).
Reduced
scores
DA
were
explained
too
much
or
little
actual
task
demands.
These
findings
underscore
scaling
demands
improves
perception
device's
suitability.
Wearable
robotic
devices
have
become
increasingly
prevalent
in
both
occupational
and
rehabilitative
settings,
yet
their
widespread
adoption
remains
inhibited
by
usability
barriers
related
to
comfort,
restriction,
noticeable
functional
benefits.
Acknowledging
the
importance
of
user
perception
this
context,
study
explores
preference-based
controller
optimization
for
a
back
exosuit
that
assists
lifting.
Considering
high
mental
metabolic
effort
discrete
motor
tasks
impose,
we
used
forced-choice
Bayesian
Optimization
approach
promotes
sampling
efficiency
leveraging
domain
knowledge
about
just
differences
between
assistance
settings.
Optimizing
over
two
control
parameters,
preferred
settings
were
consistent
within
uniquely
different
participants.
We
discovered
overall,
participants
asymmetric
parameter
configurations
with
more
lifting
than
lowering
assistance,
preferences
sensitive
anthropometrics.
These
findings
highlight
potential
perceptually
guided
wearable
devices,
marking
step
toward
pervasive
these
systems
real
world.
Ergonomics,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown, С. 1 - 15
Опубликована: Март 5, 2024
Passive
back-assist
exosuits
may
be
beneficial
for
construction
workers,
but
few
evaluations
have
been
conducted
with
actual
workers
and
construction-relevant
tasks.
This
paper
presents
a
laboratory
study
of
the
HeroWear
Apex
exosuit
35
participants:
15
significant
experience
20
without
it.
Participants
completed
several
approximations
brief
tasks
(lifting,
carrying,
raising
boards)
three
3-min
(hunched
standing,
kneeling,
hunched
walking
nail
gun)
exosuit.
During
tasks,
erector
spinae
electromyograms
were
reduced
in
all
(Cohen's
d
up
to
−0.58),
kinematics
suggested
load
shifting
from
back
legs,
was
perceived
as
helpful.
helpful
only
during
kneeling.
Thus,
benefit
construction-related
though
objective
benefits
could
not
shown
standing
or
walking.
