Can a Novel Light Weight Minimal Support Lifting Exoskeleton Modify Lifting Movement in People without Low Back Pain?

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, often associated with occupational lifting tasks.
• Lifting exoskeletons are emerging technologies designed to optimize lifting movements and mitigate LBP risk.
• The impact of minimally supportive exoskeletons on lifting biomechanics in individuals without LBP remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if a novel, lightweight exoskeleton alters lifting range of motion and movement variability in individuals without LBP.
• To assess the between-day reliability of lifting movements while wearing the novel exoskeleton.
• To evaluate the potential of this exoskeleton for monitoring lifting movements.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen participants without LBP performed 10 lifts of a box (10% body weight) in two sessions, one week apart.
• Lifting movements were assessed both with and without wearing a novel, minimally supportive exoskeleton.
• Test-retest reliability was calculated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Standard Error of Measurement (SEM).

Main Results:

• Wearing the exoskeleton demonstrated moderate-to-high test-retest reliability for trunk, hip, and knee movements (ICC values ranging from 0.61 to 0.89).
• The exoskeleton significantly decreased knee range of motion (p=0.031) and reduced hip (p=0.045) and knee (p=0.038) movement variability.
• Trunk movement variability was not significantly affected by exoskeleton use (p=1.00).

Conclusions:

• Minimally supportive exoskeletons can modify lifting biomechanics and enhance movement reliability in individuals without LBP.
• The novel exoskeleton exhibits good test-retest reliability, suggesting its potential utility for monitoring lifting movements.
• Future research should explore integrating sensors and IMUs for unobtrusive workplace lifting movement monitoring.