Biomechanical Analysis of Stoop and Free-Style Squat Lifting and Lowering with a Generic Back-Support Exoskeleton Model

Mark Tröster, Sarah Budde, Christophe Maufroy, Michael Skipper Andersen, John Rasmussen, Urs Schneider and Thomas Bauernhansl
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Mark Tröster: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Sarah Budde: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Christophe Maufroy: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Michael Skipper Andersen: Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
John Rasmussen: Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Urs Schneider: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Thomas Bauernhansl: Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) induced by industrial manual handling tasks are a major issue for workers and companies. As flexible ergonomic solutions, occupational exoskeletons can decrease critically high body stress in situations of awkward postures and motions. Biomechanical models with detailed anthropometrics and motions help us to acquire a comprehension of person- and application-specifics by considering the intended and unintended effects, which is crucial for effective implementation. In the present model-based analysis, a generic back-support exoskeleton model was introduced and applied to the motion data of one male subject performing symmetric and asymmetric dynamic manual handling tasks. Different support modes were implemented with this model, including support profiles typical of passive and active systems and an unconstrained optimal support mode used for reference to compare and quantify their biomechanical effects. The conducted simulations indicate that there is a high potential to decrease the peak compression forces in L4/L5 during the investigated heavy loaded tasks for all motion sequences and exoskeleton support modes (mean reduction of 13.3% without the optimal support mode). In particular, asymmetric motions (mean reduction of 14.7%) can be relieved more than symmetric ones (mean reduction of 11.9%) by the exoskeleton support modes without the optimal assistance. The analysis of metabolic energy consumption indicates a high dependency on lifting techniques for the effectiveness of the exoskeleton support. While the exoskeleton support substantially reduces the metabolic cost for the free-squat motions, a slightly higher energy consumption was found for the symmetric stoop motion technique with the active and optimal support mode.

Keywords: biomechanics; musculoskeletal modeling; occupational exoskeletons; ergonomics; manual handling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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