期刊
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
卷 69, 期 10, 页码 3008-3020出版社
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3159094
关键词
Exoskeletons; Task analysis; Shoulder; Muscles; Fatigue; Electromyography; Torque; Device evaluation; electromyography; ergonomics; industrial work; wearable robotics
资金
- Research Foundation -Flanders (FWO) [S000118N SBO Exo4Work]
- Titan X GPUStrategic Research Program Exercise and the Brain in Health and Disease
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
This paper assesses the effect of a passive shoulder exoskeleton prototype, Exo4Work, on muscle activity, muscle fatigue, and subjective experience during simulated occupational overhead and non-overhead work. The results show that the exoskeleton can reduce muscle activity and delay the onset of muscle fatigue during overhead work. However, its assistive effect is less prominent during dynamic tasks, and wearing the exoskeleton may cause discomfort and frustration.
Objective: This paper assesses the effect of a passive shoulder exoskeleton prototype, Exo4Work, on muscle activity, muscle fatigue and subjective experience during simulated occupational overhead and non-overhead work. Methods: Twenty-two healthy males performed six simulated industrial tasks with and without Exo4Work exoskeleton in a randomized counterbalanced cross-over design. During these tasks electromyography, heart rate, metabolic cost, subjective parameters and performance parameters were acquired. The effect of the exoskeleton and the body side on these parameters was investigated. Results: Anterior deltoid activity and fatigue reduced up to 16% and 41%, respectively, during isometric overhead work, and minimized hindrance of the device during non-overhead tasks. Wearing the exoskeleton increased feelings of frustration and increased discomfort in the areas where the exoskeleton and the body interfaced. The assistive effect of the exoskeleton was less prominent during dynamic tasks. Conclusion: This exoskeleton may reduce muscle activity and delay development of muscle fatigue in an overhead working scenario. For dynamic applications, the exoskeleton's assistive profile, which mimics the gravitational torque of the arm, is potentially sub-optimal. Significance: This evaluation paper is the first to report reduced muscle fatigue and activity when working with an occupational shoulder exoskeleton providing one third of the gravitational torque of the arm during overhead work. These results stress the potential of occupational shoulder exoskeletons in overhead working situations and may direct towards longitudinal field experiments. Additionally, this experiment may stimulate future work to further investigate the effect of different assistive profiles.
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