Effects of an industrial passive assistive exoskeleton on muscle activity, oxygen consumption and subjective responses during lifting tasks

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 1; p. e0245629
• Main Authors: Qu, Xishuai, Qu, Chenxi, Ma, Tao, Yin, Peng, Zhao, Ning, Xia, Yumeng, Qu, Shengguan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20.01.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aerospace engineering; Automobiles; Automotive engineering; Biology and Life Sciences; Civil engineering; Electrodes; Electromyography; Exoskeleton; Exoskeletons; Fatigue; Fatigue tests; Hoisting; Laboratories; Manufacturing; Materials handling; Medicine and Health Sciences; Muscle function; Muscles; Musculoskeletal diseases; Observations; Oxygen; Oxygen consumption; Physical Sciences; Physiological research; Posture; Research and Analysis Methods; Robotic surgery; Self-help devices for the disabled; Surgery; Technology; China; Inner Mongolia China
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245629

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an industrial passive assisted exoskeleton (IPAE) with simulated lifting tasks on muscle activity, oxygen consumption, perceived level of exertion, local perceived pressure, and systemic usability. Eight workers were required to complete two lifting tasks with and without the IPAE, that were single lifting tasks (repeated 5 times) and 15 min repeated lifting tasks respectively. Both of the tasks required subjects to remove a toolbox from the ground to the waist height. The test results showed that IPAE significantly reduced the muscle activity of the lumbar erector spinae, thoracic erector spinae, middle deltoid and labrum-biceps muscles; the reduction effect during the 15 min lifting task was reached 21%, 12%, 32% and 38% respectively. The exoskeleton did not cause significant differences in oxygen consumption and the perceived level of exertion, but local perceived pressure on the shoulders, thighs, wrists, and waist of the subjects could be produced. 50% of the subjects rated the usability of the equipment as acceptable. The results illustrate the good potential of the exoskeleton to reduce the muscle activity of the low back and upper arms. However, there is still a concern for the obvious contact pressure.