Effect of a back-support exoskeleton on internal forces and lumbar spine stability during low load lifting task

IF 3.1 2区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL

Applied Ergonomics Pub Date : 2024-11-02 DOI:10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104407

Amir Hossein Eskandari , Farshid Ghezelbash , Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl , Navid Arjmand , Christian Larivière

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of a small-torque generating passive back-support exoskeleton during a low demanding occupational task, namely a repetitive lifting/lowering of an empty crate between the knee and shoulder heights. A comprehensive set of outcomes was considered, ranging from the measured trunk muscle activation and trunk movement to the estimated muscle group forces/coordination, spine loading and spine stability, using a dynamic subject-specific EMG-assisted musculoskeletal model. The exoskeleton decreased back muscle activation and corresponding muscle forces in the lowering phase and reduced spinal loading at larger trunk flexion angles (decreased peak compression and shear forces by ∼ 15%). However, the effect sizes were small (

η_{G}^{2}

< .06), questioning the usefulness of this type of exoskeleton, even for light tasks. On the other hand, the unique results of the present study showed that coordination between the main muscle groups as well as spinal stability remained unchanged with low effect sizes, suggesting that the use of this exoskeleton is safe.

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背部支撑外骨骼对低负荷举重任务中内力和腰椎稳定性的影响

本研究评估了小扭矩被动背部支撑外骨骼在低要求职业任务中的效果，即在膝盖和肩膀高度之间重复抬起/放下空箱子。研究考虑了一整套结果，从测量的躯干肌肉激活和躯干运动到估算的肌肉群力量/协调、脊柱负荷和脊柱稳定性，使用的是一个动态的特定受试者肌电图辅助肌肉骨骼模型。外骨骼减少了下放阶段背部肌肉的激活和相应的肌肉力量，并减少了较大躯干屈曲角度下的脊柱负荷（压缩力和剪切力峰值减少了 15%）。然而，效应大小很小（ηG2

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Ergonomics 工程技术-工程：工业

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

9.40%

发文量

248

审稿时长

53 days

期刊介绍： Applied Ergonomics is aimed at ergonomists and all those interested in applying ergonomics/human factors in the design, planning and management of technical and social systems at work or leisure. Readership is truly international with subscribers in over 50 countries. Professionals for whom Applied Ergonomics is of interest include: ergonomists, designers, industrial engineers, health and safety specialists, systems engineers, design engineers, organizational psychologists, occupational health specialists and human-computer interaction specialists.