Influence of an occupational soft-back exoskeleton on lumbar loads and neuromuscular stress during a simulated manual order picking task

Soft-back exoskeletons are known to reduce back muscle activity during lifting tasks, especially in laboratory settings. However, limited research exists concerning the impact of back-support exoskeletons on lumbar loads in more complex workplace tasks. This study aimed to assess the effects of the CORFOR® soft-back exoskeleton on lumbar loads, trunk muscle activity and perceived exertion during a simulated manual order picking task while using stoop or squat techniques. The results showed a significant reduction in lumbar loads at the L5–S1 joint across most phases of the task (p < 0.05), as well as in erector spinae muscle activity with reductions ranged from 5 to 13% depending on the phase (p < 0.05) when using the exoskeleton. These findings highlight the relevance of such an occupational lower back exoskeleton to reduce lumbar loads, and question which indicators better reflect lower back pain risk, especially in real working environments.