Exoskeletons show promise in reducing lower back exertion: study

St. Catharines, Ontario — Exoskeletons could help prevent lower back injuries that stem from lifting objects, according to a recent study out of Canada.

A team led by researchers from Brock University asked participants to perform a series of tasks with boxes in a simulated warehouse for an hour without exoskeletons.

“Tasks involved twisting, bending and stretching all sides of the body,” a university press release states.

The same group returned eight months later to perform the same tasks while wearing exoskeletons. Sensors tracked the participants’ body movements and muscle activity.

Researchers then compared the two datasets to determine the impact of the exoskeleton on muscle fatigue, exertion and coordination on the group’s bodies, particularly in the lower back.

“The participants perceived less exertion and they completed tasks faster with the exoskeleton on,” said study co-author Emma Ratke, a kinesiology student at Brock. 

She added that when the groups were swearing the exoskeletons, they had different movement patterns, and “more research is needed to understand how this may be related to injury risk.”

The study was published in the Journal of Biomechanics.