Citation

So BCL, Hua C, Chen T, Gao Q, Man SS. J. Saf. Res. 2022; 83: 210-222.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2022.08.017

PMID

36481011

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Most people have experienced low back pain (LBP) more or less in their lifetime. Heavier load weight could increase the risk of LBP, especially in repetitive lifting and carrying tasks. The risk could also increase with the frequency of lifting. This study aims to investigate the effects of a passive back-support exoskeleton (PBSE) on trunk muscle activation, kinematics, and physical capacity in a repetitive lifting task and a carrying task in consideration of load weights in a laboratory setting.

RESULTS: Results showed that using the PBSE, the activities of the thoracic erector spinae and lumbar erector spinae muscles were reduced significantly by nearly 7% MVC and 3% MVC in the repetitive lifting task and the carrying task, respectively. There was no significant effect of the PBSE on the spine kinematics and physical capacity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study supports the use of the PBSE to reduce trunk muscle activity in repetitive lifting and carrying tasks.

Language: en

Keywords

Kinematics; Manual handling operation; Muscle activity; Passive back-support exoskeleton; Physical capacity