Evaluation of Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton

Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the effect of three different designs of trunk assistance exoskeletons on cumulative lumbar load, trunk extensors' muscular fatigue and comfort in healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer is: will exoskeletons reduce muscle fatigue and cumulative lumbar load. Participants will :

* get each exoskeletons adjusted and then practice the lifting task and measurement sequence in a first session
* perform a lifting task for 4 blocks of 20 minutes on different sessions for each exoskeleton, another session is performed without assistance.

Conditions

• Exoskeleton Device

Interventions

DEVICE

Adjustment and practice session

During the adjustment and practice session, participants will perform the lifting task with each exoskeleton after they are properly fitted. They will also perform the measurement sequence as to limit learning effects during lifting task sessions. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

DEVICE

No trunk assistance

This lifting task session is performed without any trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

DEVICE

Uplift Lite exoskeleton

This lifting task session is performed with the Mawashi Uplift Lite trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants will perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

DEVICE

Biolift exoskeleton

This lifting task session is performed with the Biolift trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

DEVICE

Laevo Flex exoskeleton

This lifting task session is performed with the Leavo Flex trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail

  collaborator OTHER

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• TOPMED

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-04

Primary Completion

2025-11-01

Completion

2026-05-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations