Embedded Files
Aim of this online platform
Aim of this online platform
This open source platform is designed to be an useful tool that allows practitioners to easily assess the pros and cons of different exoskeleton designs on a task-by-task basis.
How to navigate the site
How to navigate the site
The homepage includes a very brief introduction to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, back-support exoskeletons and the lab study we conducted. At the bottom of this page you can explore the different outcomes on a task-by-task basis and visualize participants' perception of exoskeletons.
Background
Background
The persistent prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in manual material handling, particularly in the low-back region, continues to pose a substantial burden on worker health, safety, and economic costs (more than $10 billion). Tasks like repetitive lifting are leading causes.
Hence, there is a critical need for effective ergonomic interventions. Exoskeletons are a wearable device, emerging as a promising technology to address this challenge, with the potential to reduce physical workload and support users during manual material handling tasks.
Introduction to back-support exoskeletons
Introduction to back-support exoskeletons
Wearable devices that augment, enable, assist, or enhance motion, posture, or physical activity. They are designed to provide external forces/torques assisting hip/back extension. There are broadly two types -
Powered Exoskeletons
Powered Exoskeletons
They use actuators and/or associated power supplies to provide external forces/torques.
Passive Exoskeletons
Passive Exoskeletons
They generally use spring, dampers, or elastic materials to provide external forces/torques
Background about this study
Background about this study
In this study, we evaluated five different passive and powered back-support exoskeletons along with a control condition (i.e., no exoskeleton) during tasks such as one-handed lifting, two-handed lifting, static posture assembly, pushing, and pulling. We recruited 20 participants from Clemson University, aged between 18 and 35 years, with no recent history (within the past 12 months) of musculoskeletal disorders. Below are some additional participants characteristics:
Back-support exoskeletons used in this study
Back-support exoskeletons used in this study
Explore exoskeleton outcomes by task:
Explore exoskeleton outcomes by task:
Subjective exoskeleton outcomes:
Subjective exoskeleton outcomes:
We'd love to hear from you! Please leave any feedback, comments, or questions.
We'd love to hear from you! Please leave any feedback, comments, or questions.
Back to BEST lab website:
Back to BEST lab website:
Page updated
Report abuse