Effects of a soft back exoskeleton on lower lumbar spine loads during manual materials handling: a musculoskeletal modelling study
The aim of this study was to append a passive soft back exoskeleton to a validated musculoskeletal model and assess its effectiveness in reducing lumbar loads. Fifteen participants lifted a box, with and without wearing a CORFOR<sup>®</sup> exoskeleton. A full body OpenSim model was used to estimate lumbar joint moments and reaction forces, as well as low back muscles forces. Wearing the exoskeleton reduced the peak flexion moment, muscles forces, as well as peak compressive and shear forces. This musculoskeletal modelling study shows that wearing the exoskeleton may reduce lumbar spine loads and may contribute to prevent low back disorders.
Authors
- Arthur Favennec (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1864-5981)
- Guillaume Mornieux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5756-9642)
- Julien Frère (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4778-4514)
- Florent Moissenet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6479-1911)
Institutions
- Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (FR)
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
- GIPSA-Lab (FR)
- Développement, Adaptation et Handicap
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
- Université de Lorraine (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Computer Methods in Biomechanics & Biomedical Engineering
- Published
- 2024-11-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10255842.2024.2422925
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.90