[Wearable stoop-assist device in reducing incidence of low back pain]

According to human biomechanics the ideal static equilibrium model of stooped human body was built, based on which a wearable stoop-assist device (WSAD) as an intervention to reduce the load on the erector spinae was developed. Electromyography (EMG) experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the WSAD. Results showed that the integrated EMG of the thoracic erector spinae (TES), the lumbar erector spinae (LES), the latissimus dorsi (LD) and the rectus abdominis (RA) were reduced by 43%, 48%, 32% and 14% respectively, when Sagittal trunk bent forward to 90 degrees from the vertical. Therefore, by reducing back erector spinae activity, the WSAD could reduce the incidence of developing LBP for those who adopt the prolonged stooped posture in work.