Passive back support exoskeletons do not effectively reduce physical demands during simulated floor tiling.

Area of Science:

• Occupational health and safety
• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) show promise for reducing physical strain in various jobs.
• Their efficacy in flooring tasks, a physically demanding occupation, is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two commercially available BSEs (HeroWear Apex™ and Laevo Flex™) in reducing physical demands during simulated floor tiling tasks.
• To investigate the influence of tile size and task type on exoskeleton performance and user experience.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen participants performed simulated floor tiling and grouting with small and large tiles.
• They used either the HeroWear Apex™ (HW), Laevo Flex™ (LV), or no device (ND).
• Electromyography measured back muscle activation, and subjective feedback was collected.

Main Results:

• HeroWear Apex™ (HW) increased back muscle activation by 13-44% compared to no device (ND), while Laevo Flex™ (LV) showed minimal changes.
• Participants reported movement restrictions, discomfort, and skin irritation with both BSEs.
• Task-specific effects were observed, with significant interactions between intervention, tile size, and task type on muscle activity and subjective outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated back-support exoskeletons did not effectively reduce physical demands during simulated floor tiling.
• Task-specific evaluations are crucial for understanding BSE effectiveness.
• Findings may inform exoskeleton use in similar construction tasks.