Effects of passive back-support exoskeletons on postural stability and fall risks during commercial crab fishing

Commercial crab fishing involves frequent bending on dynamic decks, posing for low-back overexertion and loss of balance. Passive back-support exoskeletons may reduce spinal loading, but their effects on postural stability during fishery-relevant tasks are unclear. Twenty-five men performed crab pot handling and crab sorting with and without exoskeletons (Apex, Laevo, and Ottobock) . Centre-of-pressure (COP) , perceived balance interference and range-of-motion (ROM) limitation were collected. During pot handling, COP metrics were largely unchanged across devices, with only small differences in regularity. During crab sorting, exoskeleton use, especially Apex, was associated with increased COP activity, whereas Laevo and Ottobock showed smaller, selective changes. Perceived balance interference was low, but perceived ROM limitation was moderate. Results highlight task-dependent stability effects and support fit-for-task selection and training for fisheries deployment.