Choosing a Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton: Issues of Cumulative Lumbar Loading, Muscle Fatigue, and Discomfort During Repetitive Lifting Tasks

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of three different trunk assistance exoskeleton designs on muscle fatigue, lumbar load, and comfort during repetitive lifting tasks in healthy adult men. The study aims to determine whether these exoskeletons can reduce muscle fatigue and cumulative lumbar loading. The investigation is interventional and involves healthy volunteers performing specific lifting tasks under controlled conditions. Participants will undergo five sessions: an initial adjustment and practice session followed by four lifting sessions in random order. These sessions include lifting tasks performed without assistance and with each of the three exoskeletons: Uplift Lite, Biolift, and Laevo Flex. During each lifting session, participants complete three blocks of 20 minutes of a box transfer task, moving a box weighing 10% of their maximal lifting strength from ground to hip-height table at a rhythm of 7 cycles per minute. Each session lasts about three hours, with 4 to 14 days of rest between sessions. Participants will be assessed for changes in spinal compression, muscular exertion perception, and maximal lifting strength before and after each lifting session. Additional measures include exoskeleton assistance, parasitic forces, movement restriction, postural instability, pressure points, discomfort, and comfort scores. The study involves detailed monitoring of physical performance and comfort during these tasks, with total participation spanning several sessions over time.

Evaluation of Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton