Field assessment of a passive back exoskeleton in the aeronautics industry: biomechanical responses and worker acceptance

Workers in aeronautics face high risks of low-back disorders (LBDs). Although occupational passive back exoskeletons show preventive potential during trunk flexion tasks, few studies have been conducted in real workplaces. This field study aims to assess the effects of a rigid passive back exoskeleton on back neuromuscular activity, trunk kinematics and perceived discomfort, as well as the user acceptance. Ten male employees from an aeronautics manufacturer performed their routine polishing activity, later segmented into seven representative tasks, with and without the Laevo FLEX exoskeleton. The results showed significant reductions of 7–25% in erector spinae (ES) activity in four tasks. The average trunk flexion angle was only reduced for one task. Perceived discomfort was not significantly impacted by the exoskeleton. Acceptance was mixed but overall positive. This supports the exoskeleton’s beneficial impact in aeronautical polishing tasks and more generally highlights the potential of such devices for trunk-flexion activities in real settings.