Systematic Review of Back-Support Exoskeletons and Soft Robotic Suits.

Athar Ali,Werner Schmoelz,Sunil K Agrawal,Vigilio Fontanari

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.765257

Abstract

Lower back pain and musculoskeletal injuries are serious concerns for workers subjected to physical workload and manual material handling tasks. Spine assistive exoskeletons are being developed to support the spine and distribute the spine load. This article presents a detailed up-to-date review on the back support exoskeletons by discussing their type (Active/Passive), structure (Rigid/Soft), power transmission methods, weight, maximum assistive force, battery technologies, tasks (lifting, bending, stooping work), kinematic compatibility and other important features. This article also assesses the back support exoskeletons in terms of their ability to reduce the physical load on the spine. By reviewing functional and structural characteristics, the goal is to increase communication and realization among ergonomics practitioners, developers, customers, and factory workers. The search resulted in reviewing 34 exoskeletons of which 16 were passive and 18 were active. In conclusion, back support exoskeletons have immense potential to significantly reduce the factors regarding work-related musculoskeletal injuries. However, various technical challenges and a lack of established safety standards limit the wide adaptation of exoskeletons in industry.

Highlights

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is a type of chronic physical issue resulting from repeatedly lifting heavy objects by the labor at work
While automation is ideal for Review of Back Support Exoskeletons repetitive tasks, people are needed for a variety of tasks that require human skills, flexibility, perception, and judgment
This study aims to address following research questions (RQ): RQ1: What are the functional and structural features of the back support exoskeletons?

Summary

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) is a type of chronic physical issue resulting from repeatedly lifting heavy objects by the labor at work. It is the cause of an inordinate number of missed workdays, workers’ compensation claims, skyrocketing medical bills, lost productivity, and even early retirement. Over 40% of the laborers in the EU agonize lower back pain due to overexertion of manual handling tasks. Different intervention solutions (instructing and educating the workers, workplace modifications, exercise, office automation, etc.) have been assessed for further prevention of Lower Back Pain (LBP) (Alemi, 2019). The use of exoskeletons is one of the solutions for handling labor-intensive tasks. While automation is ideal for Review of Back Support Exoskeletons repetitive tasks, people are needed for a variety of tasks that require human skills, flexibility, perception, and judgment (de Looze et al, 2016)

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Conclusion