Biomechanical Evaluation of a Hybrid Upper-Body Exoskeleton During Lifting and Overhead Tasks in Occupational Settings: A Preliminary Study

Recently, the concept of “Industry 5.0” has been emerging, highlighting the importance of prioritizing the well-being of workers within the overall industrial environments. This shift in focus moves from traditional safety concerns to a more holistic approach that emphasizes operator’s health and wellbeing. In this context, exoskeletons have gained significant attention as a potential solution to reduce the risks of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly in tasks involving demanding and repetitive movements. This study explores the effectiveness of a hybrid upper-body exoskeleton in mitigating biomechanical strain during both dynamic and static tasks. An experimental protocol was developed, involving two main occupational task categories: a load-lifting task and a static overhead task, each one performed with and without the exoskeleton. The obtained results suggested that while the exoskeleton provided benefits in overall reducing muscular activation and joint range of motion, it may also increase biomechanical strain and fatigue for specific muscles and joint in certain conditions, particularly during asymmetrical tasks and while lifting high loads. These findings emphasize the importance of ensuring that the exoskeleton could dynamically adapt to individual user and task requirements for optimal performance. Additionally, the study calls for future research that incorporates cognitive and ergonomic considerations to better understand the long-term effects of exoskeleton use on the overall worker performance including motor coordination and attention.