The effects of working with a passive arm-support exoskeleton on objective and self-reported measures during field tasks – a randomised cross-over study.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent under poor working situations. Where it is not possible to remove the root cause of MSDs, passive exoskeletons could be a solution. In this randomised cross-over field study we investigated the effect of a passive arm-support exoskeleton. Ten participan...
| Published in: | Ergonomics Vol. 68; no. 7; pp. 1094 - 1113 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Jul2025
|
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=186082140&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 186082140 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 00140139 ERO jtl: Ergonomics issn: 00140139 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Jul2025 vid: 68 iid: 7 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artinfo: ui: 186082140 179219734 186082140 186082140 10.1080/00140139.2024.2392785 186082140 ppf: 1094 ppct: 19 formats: tig: atl: The effects of working with a passive arm-support exoskeleton on objective and self-reported measures during field tasks – a randomised cross-over study. aug: au: Pentenga, Hilde M. Coenen, Pieter Huysmans, Maaike A. Speklé, Erwin M. affil: Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands sug: subj: Exoskeleton Devices Utilization Self Report Task Performance and Analysis Field Studies Occupational Health Muscle, Skeletal Physiology Heart Rate Evaluation Arm Physiology Human Randomized Controlled Trials Random Assignment Pretest-Posttest Design Funding Source Crossover Design Musculoskeletal Diseases Netherlands Usability Study Trapezius Muscles Physiology Deltoid Muscles Physiology Descriptive Statistics Electromyography Extraction and Processing Industry Assistive Technology Devices ab: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent under poor working situations. Where it is not possible to remove the root cause of MSDs, passive exoskeletons could be a solution. In this randomised cross-over field study we investigated the effect of a passive arm-support exoskeleton. Ten participants, recruited from a Dutch gas company, were measured with and without exoskeleton assessing muscle activity, heart rate (HR), arm elevation, and reported about their experiences. Participants spent more time in high arm elevation levels with the exoskeleton than without. Muscle activity was lower in the trapezius (Beta: −1.8 [−3.1; −0.4]) and deltoid (Beta: −1.4 [−2.3; −0.6]) muscles, but not the biceps muscle, during the measurements with exoskeleton than without, suggesting effectiveness of the exoskeleton. HR and discomfort did not statistically significantly differ between the two conditions. Participants would recommend an exoskeleton to their colleagues, but mainly for repetitive work. Their opinions about the usefulness during work varied. Practitioner Summary: This randomised cross-over field study examined the effect of a passive arm-supporting exoskeleton during field tasks by participants working at a Dutch gas company. It turned out that the exoskeleton had a positive effect on reducing muscle activity. Although most participants would recommend an exoskeleton to their colleagues, some participants reported discomfort while using the exoskeleton and less than half of the participants would use the exoskeleton more often themselves. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
|---|