Muscular, metabolic, functional and subjective evaluation of the cyber human system Exosoft: a laboratory study

Objectives. This study investigated muscular, functional, metabolic and user's perception aspects of the Exosoft exosuit during two tasks - a simulated patient handling scenario and a repetitive lifting task - using statistical parametric mapping. Methods. In Experiment 1, 16 healthy participants performed a simulated patient handling task to examine muscle activation and functional outcomes. In Experiment 2, 20 healthy participants completed repetitive lifting to assess metabolic cost, perceived exertion and discomfort, and user satisfaction. Results. In Experiment 1, Exosoft significantly reduced activation of the erector spinae longissimus (-7.8%) and iliocostalis (-10%) during lifting and lowering phases, and decreased lower trapezius activity (-11.4%) during holding and lowering movements. However, ankle dorsiflexion declined (-10.7%), representing a functional side effect. In Experiment 2, no significant changes in metabolic cost were detected. Nevertheless, participants reported high satisfaction, with an average score of 4/5. Effectiveness and comfort emerged as the most valued features. Conclusion. Exosoft effectively reduced back-muscle loading during simulated patient handling, highlighting its potential to support caregivers in healthcare contexts. Further research should address real-world implementation, including prolonged use, heavier loads and a broader spectrum of patient handling tasks to confirm its practical utility.