Dataset Information

Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the effect of using a passive back-support exoskeleton (Laevo V2.56) on muscle activity, posture, heart rate, performance, usability, and wearer comfort during a course of three industrial tasks (COU; exoskeleton worn, turned-on), stair climbing test (SCT; exoskeleton worn, turned-off), timed-up-and-go test (TUG; exoskeleton worn, turned-off) compared to no exoskeleton.

Background

Back-support exoskeletons have the potential to reduce work-related physical demands.

Methods

Thirty-six men participated. Activity of erector spinae (ES), biceps femoris (BF), rectus abdominis (RA), vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), trapezius descendens (TD) was recorded by electromyography; posture by trunk, hip, knee flexion angles; heart rate by electrocardiography; performance by time-to-task accomplishment (s) and perceived task difficulty (100-mm visual analogue scale; VAS); usability by the System Usability Scale (SUS) and all items belonging to domains skepticism and user-friendliness of the Technology Usage Inventory; wearer comfort by the 100-mm VAS.

Results

During parts of COU, using the exoskeleton decreased ES and BF activity and trunk flexion, and increased RA, GM, and TD activity, knee and hip flexion. Wearing the exoskeleton increased time-to-task accomplishment of SCT, TUG, and COU and perceived difficulty of SCT and TUG. Average SUS was 75.4, skepticism 11.5/28.0, user-friendliness 18.0/21.0, wearer comfort 31.1 mm.

Conclusion

Using the exoskeleton modified muscle activity and posture depending on the task applied, slightly impaired performance, and was evaluated mildly uncomfortable.

Application

These outcomes require investigating the effects of this passive back-supporting exoskeleton in longitudinal studies with longer operating times, providing better insights for guiding their application in real work settings.

SUBMITTER: Luger T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9846378 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial.

Luger Tessy T Bär Mona M Seibt Robert R Rieger Monika A MA Steinhilber Benjamin B

Human factors 20210416 1

<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the effect of using a passive back-support exoskeleton (Laevo V2.56) on muscle activity, posture, heart rate, performance, usability, and wearer comfort during a course of three industrial tasks (COU; exoskeleton worn, turned-on), stair climbing test (SCT; exoskeleton worn, turned-off), timed-up-and-go test (TUG; exoskeleton worn, turned-off) compared to no exoskeleton.<h4>Background</h4>Back-support exoskeletons have the potential to reduce work-related physical ...[more]

PMID: 33861139

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Dataset Information

Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial.

Objective

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Application

Publications

Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial.

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