Title
The effects of a passive exoskeleton on muscle activity, discomfort and endurance time in forward bending work
Author
Bosch, T.
van Eck, J.
Knitel, K.
de Looze, M.P.
Publication year
2016
Abstract
Exoskeletons may form a new strategy to reduce the risk of developing low back pain in stressful jobs. In the present study we examined the potential of a so-called passive exoskeleton on muscle activity, discomfort and endurance time in prolonged forward-bended working postures.Eighteen subjects performed two tasks: a simulated assembly task with the trunk in a forward-bended position and static holding of the same trunk position without further activity. We measured the electromyography for muscles in the back, abdomen and legs. We also measured the perceived local discomfort. In the static holding task we determined the endurance, defined as the time that people could continue without passing a specified discomfort threshold.In the assembly task we found lower muscle activity (by 35-38%) and lower discomfort in the low back when wearing the exoskeleton. Additionally, the hip extensor activity was reduced. The exoskeleton led to more discomfort in the chest region. In the task of static holding, we observed that exoskeleton use led to an increase in endurance time from 3.2 to 9.7 min, on average.The results illustrate the good potential of this passive exoskeleton to reduce the internal muscle forces and (reactive) spinal forces in the lumbar region. However, the adoption of an over-extended knee position might be, among others, one of the concerns when using the exoskeleton. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society.
Subject
Life
SP - Sustainable Productivity and Employability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Work and Employment
Workplace
Healthy Living
Discomfort
Electromyography
Endurance
Exoskeleton
Industry
Trunk bending
Durability
Electromyography
Industry
Muscle
Assembly tasks
Discomfort
Endurance time
Local discomforts
Lumbar regions
Muscle activities
Static holdings
Trunk positions
Exoskeleton (Robotics)
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9fc1396d-6bc8-423d-bebc-8d26419ee364
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2015.12.003
TNO identifier
533285
ISSN
0003-6870
Source
Applied Ergonomics, 54, 212-217
Document type
article