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Dang S, Wink C, Yang SM, Lin K, Takesh T, Habib AA, Wilder-Smith P. Effect of a Novel Ergonomic Sheath on Dental Device-Related Muscle Work, Fatigue and Comfort-A Pilot Clinical Study. Dent J (Basel) 2024; 12:296. [PMID: 39329862 PMCID: PMC11431630 DOI: 10.3390/dj12090296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Dental instrumentation with hand-held devices is associated with discomfort, fatigue and musculoskeletal diseases or repetitive stress injuries. The goal of this in vivo study was to determine the effect of an ergonomic handle sheath on muscle work, comfort and fatigue associated with (a) piezoelectric scaling by hygienists with and without musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), and (b) dental cavity preparation by healthy dentists using a dental micromotor. Materials and Methods: Two groups of ten hygienists each tested the piezoelectric scaler. Hygienists in Group 1 had no MSDs, while those in Group 2 had been diagnosed with MSDs. Additionally, ten dentists with no MSDs used a dental micromotor to prepare four standardized cavities. Time-based work in four muscles, comfort and fatigue were recorded in the presence and absence of an add-on soft, insulating handle sheath. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance model with Tukey's post-hoc test. Results: Comfort, fatigue and muscle work were significantly better for both devices when the sheath was used. While hygienists with MSDs used more muscle work to complete the set scaling task, and the sheath-related reduction in work was somewhat greater, these MSD-related differences did not quite reach significance. Conclusions: The results of this pilot study show that the ergonomic performance of an ultrasonic scaler and a dental micromotor may be improved by the use of an ergonomic handle sheath.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Dang
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
| | - Cherie Wink
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
| | - Susan Meishan Yang
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
| | - Kairong Lin
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
| | - Thair Takesh
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
| | - Ali A. Habib
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, CA 92868, USA;
| | - Petra Wilder-Smith
- Beckman Laser Institute, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92612, USA; (S.D.); (C.W.); (S.M.Y.); (K.L.); (T.T.)
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Wang Q, Chen C, Mu X, Wang H, Wang Z, Xu S, Guo W, Wu X, Li W. A Wearable Upper Limb Exoskeleton System and Intelligent Control Strategy. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:129. [PMID: 38534814 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9030129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy lifting operations frequently lead to upper limb muscle fatigue and injury. In order to reduce muscle fatigue, auxiliary force for upper limbs can be provided. This paper presents the development and evaluation of a wearable upper limb exoskeleton (ULE) robot system. A flexible cable transmits auxiliary torque and is connected to the upper limb by bypassing the shoulder. Based on the K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm and integrated fuzzy PID control strategy, the ULE identifies the handling posture and provides accurate active auxiliary force automatically. Overall, it has the quality of being light and easy to wear. In unassisted mode, the wearer's upper limbs minimally affect the range of movement. The KNN algorithm uses multi-dimensional motion information collected by the sensor, and the test accuracy is 94.59%. Brachioradialis muscle (BM), triceps brachii (TB), and biceps brachii (BB) electromyogram (EMG) signals were evaluated by 5 kg, 10 kg, and 15 kg weight conditions for five subjects, respectively, during lifting, holding, and squatting. Compared with the ULE without assistance and with assistance, the average peak values of EMG signals of BM, TB, and BB were reduced by 19-30% during the whole handling process, which verified that the developed ULE could provide practical assistance under different load conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Chunjie Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xinxing Mu
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Haibin Wang
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Sheng Xu
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Weilun Guo
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xinyu Wu
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Weimin Li
- Shandong Zhongke Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan 250100, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Robotics and Intelligent System, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Dooley S, Kim S, Nussbaum MA, Madigan ML. Occupational arm-support and back-support exoskeletons elicit changes in reactive balance after slip-like and trip-like perturbations on a treadmill. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2024; 115:104178. [PMID: 37984085 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of arm- and back-support exoskeletons on reactive balance after slip-like and trip-like perturbations on a treadmill. Twenty-eight participants used two arm-support exoskeletons and two back-support exoskeletons with support (i.e., assistive joint torque) activated or deactivated. In each exoskeleton condition, as well in as a control without any exoskeleton, participants were exposed to 12 treadmill perturbations during upright standing. The exoskeletons did not significantly increase the probability of a failed recovery after the perturbations compared to wearing no exoskeleton, but did elicit effects on kinematic variables that suggested balance recovery was more challenging. Moreover, reactive balance differed when wearing back-support and arm-support exoskeletons, and when wearing an activated exoskeleton compared to a deactivated exoskeleton. Together, our results suggest these exoskeletons may increase the risk of slip- and trip-induced falls. The potential mechanisms of this increased risk are discussed and include the added mass and/or motion restrictions associated with wearing these exoskeletons. Our results do not support the assistive hip/back extension moment provided by back-support exoskeletons adversely affecting fall risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Dooley
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Sunwook Kim
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Michael L Madigan
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Ma T, Zhang Y, Choi SD, Xiong S. Modelling for design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons: A systematic review. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 113:104100. [PMID: 37490791 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Industrial exoskeletons are developed to relieve workers' physical demands in the workplace and to alleviate ergonomic issues associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. As a safe and economical alternative to empirical/experimental methods, modelling is considered as a powerful tool for design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current literature on the design and evaluation of industrial exoskeletons through modelling. A systematic study was conducted by general keyword searches of five electronic databases over the last two decades (2003-2022). Out of the 701 records initially retrieved, 33 eligible articles were included and analyzed in the final review, presenting a variety of model inputs, model development, and model outputs used in the modelling. This systematic review study revealed that existing modelling methods can evaluate the biomechanical and physiological effects of industrial exoskeletons and provide some design parameters. However, the modelling method is currently unable to cover some of the main evaluation metrics supported by experimental assessments, such as task performance, user experience/discomfort, change in metabolic costs etc. Standard guidelines for model construction and implementation, as well as validation of human-exoskeleton interactions, remain to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiejun Ma
- Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yanxin Zhang
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, 4703906, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sang D Choi
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Shuping Xiong
- Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea.
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Fournier DE, Yung M, Somasundram KG, Du BB, Rezvani S, Yazdani A. Quality, productivity, and economic implications of exoskeletons for occupational use: A systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287742. [PMID: 37368889 PMCID: PMC10298758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the current state of knowledge on the quality and productivity of workers and their work while wearing exoskeletons, as well as the economic implications of exoskeletons for occupational use. Following the PRISMA guidelines, six databases were systematically searched for relevant journal articles, written in English, and published since January 2000. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria had their quality assessed using JBI's Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies (Non-Randomized Experimental Studies). A total of 6,722 articles were identified and 15 articles focusing on the impact of exoskeletons on quality and productivity of exoskeleton users while performing occupational tasks were included in this study. None of the included articles evaluated the economic implications of exoskeletons for occupational use. This study revealed several quality and productivity measures (e.g., endurance time, task completion time, number of errors, number of task cycles completed) used to evaluate the impact of exoskeletons. The current state of the literature suggests that quality and productivity impacts of exoskeleton use are dependent on task characteristics that should be considered when adopting exoskeletons. Future studies should evaluate the impact of exoskeleton use in the field and on a diverse pool of workers, as well as its economic implications to better support decision-making in the adoption of exoskeletons within organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Fournier
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcus Yung
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kumara G. Somasundram
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bronson B. Du
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Rezvani
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amin Yazdani
- Canadian Institute for Safety, Wellness & Performance, School of Business, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Ontario, Canada
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Kranenborg SE, Greve C, Reneman MF, Roossien CC. Side-effects and adverse events of a shoulder- and back-support exoskeleton in workers: A systematic review. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 111:104042. [PMID: 37146320 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While the biomechanical effects of exoskeletons are well studied, research about potential side-effects and adverse events are limited. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an overview of the side-effects and adverse events on shoulder- and back-support exoskeletons during work tasks. METHODS Four in-field studies and 32 laboratory studies were included in this review, reporting on n = 18 shoulder exoskeletons, n = 9 back exoskeletons, n = 1 full body with a supernumerary arm, and n = 1 combination of shoulder and back exoskeleton. RESULTS The most frequent side-effect reported is discomfort (n = 30), followed by a limited usability of the exoskeleton (n = 16). Other identified side-effects and adverse events were changes in muscle activity, mobility, task performance, balance and posture, neurovascular supply, gait parameters and precision. An incorrect fit of the exoskeleton and the decreased degrees of freedom are most often reported as causes of these side-effects. Two studies did not find any side-effects. This review also showed that there are differences in the occurrence of side-effects in gender, age, and physical fitness. Most studies (89%) were conducted in a laboratory setting. Most studies (97%) measured short-term effects only. Psychological and social side-effects or adverse events were not reported. Side-effects and adverse events for active exoskeletons were understudied (n = 4). CONCLUSION It was concluded that the evidence for side-effects and adverse events is limited. If available, it mainly consists of reports of mild discomfort and limited usability. Generalisation is limited because studies were conducted in lab settings and measured short term only, and most participants were young male workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Kranenborg
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Human Movement Science, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - C Greve
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Human Movement Science, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - M F Reneman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - C C Roossien
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Human Movement Science, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Kong YK, Park SS, Shim JW, Choi KH, Shim HH, Kia K, Kim JH. A passive upper-limb exoskeleton reduced muscular loading during augmented reality interactions. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 109:103982. [PMID: 36739780 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.103982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate a passive upper-limb exoskeleton as an ergonomic control to reduce the musculoskeletal load in the shoulders associated with augmented reality (AR) interactions. In a repeated-measures laboratory study, each of the 20 participants performed a series of AR tasks with and without a commercially-available upper-limb exoskeleton. During the AR tasks, muscle activity (anterior, middle, posterior deltoid, and upper trapezius), shoulder joint postures/moment, and self-reported discomfort were collected. The results showed that the exoskeleton significantly reduced muscle activity in the upper trapezius and deltoid muscle groups and self-reported discomfort. However, the shoulder postures and task performance measures were not affected by the exoskeleton during the AR interactions. Given the significant decrease in muscle activity and discomfort without compromising task performance, a passive exoskeleton can be an effective ergonomic control measure to reduce the risks of developing musculoskeletal discomfort or injuries in the shoulder regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Ku Kong
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Sang-Soo Park
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jin-Woo Shim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kyeong-Hee Choi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Hyun-Ho Shim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kiana Kia
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Jeong Ho Kim
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
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Kong YK, Kim JH, Shim HH, Shim JW, Park SS, Choi KH. Efficacy of passive upper-limb exoskeletons in reducing musculoskeletal load associated with overhead tasks. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2023; 109:103965. [PMID: 36645995 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.103965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Overhead work can pose substantial musculoskeletal stress in many industrial settings. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of passive upper-limb exoskeletons in reducing muscular activity and subjective discomfort ratings. In a repeated-measures laboratory experiment, 20 healthy male participants performed 10-min drilling tasks with and without two passive upper-limb exoskeletons (VEX and Airframe). During the tasks, muscle activity in eight muscles (upper limb - upper trapezius, middle deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii; low back - erector spinae; lower limb - rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior) was collected using electromyography as a physical exertion measure. Subjective discomfort rating in six body parts was measured using the Borg's CR-10 scale. The results showed that muscle activity (especially in the upper-limb muscles) was significantly decreased by 29.3-58.1% with both exoskeletons compared to no exoskeleton condition. The subjective discomfort ratings showed limited differences between the conditions. These findings indicate that passive upper-limb exoskeletons may have potential as an effective intervention to reduce muscular loading and physical exertion during overhead work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Ku Kong
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Jeong Ho Kim
- School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvalli, OR, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health, Oregon State University, Corvalli, OR, USA
| | - Hyun-Ho Shim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Jin-Woo Shim
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Park
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Kyeong-Hee Choi
- Digital Health Care R&D Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Cheonan, South Korea.
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Brambilla C, Lavit Nicora M, Storm F, Reni G, Malosio M, Scano A. Biomechanical Assessments of the Upper Limb for Determining Fatigue, Strain and Effort from the Laboratory to the Industrial Working Place: A Systematic Review. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:445. [PMID: 37106632 PMCID: PMC10135542 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent human-centered developments in the industrial field (Industry 5.0) lead companies and stakeholders to ensure the wellbeing of their workers with assessments of upper limb performance in the workplace, with the aim of reducing work-related diseases and improving awareness of the physical status of workers, by assessing motor performance, fatigue, strain and effort. Such approaches are usually developed in laboratories and only at times they are translated to on-field applications; few studies summarized common practices for the assessments. Therefore, our aim is to review the current state-of-the-art approaches used for the assessment of fatigue, strain and effort in working scenarios and to analyze in detail the differences between studies that take place in the laboratory and in the workplace, in order to give insights on future trends and directions. A systematic review of the studies aimed at evaluating the motor performance, fatigue, strain and effort of the upper limb targeting working scenarios is presented. A total of 1375 articles were found in scientific databases and 288 were analyzed. About half of the scientific articles are focused on laboratory pilot studies investigating effort and fatigue in laboratories, while the other half are set in working places. Our results showed that assessing upper limb biomechanics is quite common in the field, but it is mostly performed with instrumental assessments in laboratory studies, while questionnaires and scales are preferred in working places. Future directions may be oriented towards multi-domain approaches able to exploit the potential of combined analyses, exploitation of instrumental approaches in workplace, targeting a wider range of people and implementing more structured trials to translate pilot studies to real practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Brambilla
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Matteo Lavit Nicora
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
- Industrial Engineering Department, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Storm
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Informatics Department, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Matteo Malosio
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scano
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
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Arnoux B, Farr A, Boccara V, Vignais N. Evaluation of a Passive Upper Limb Exoskeleton in Healthcare Workers during a Surgical Instrument Cleaning Task. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3153. [PMID: 36833846 PMCID: PMC9962376 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Healthcare workers are highly affected by work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the lower back, neck and shoulders, as their occupational tasks expose them to biomechanical constraints. One solution to prevent these musculoskeletal disorders may be the use of a passive exoskeleton as it aims to reduce muscle solicitation. However, few studies have been carried out directly in this field to assess the impact of the use of a passive upper limb exoskeleton on this population. (2) Methods: Seven healthcare workers, equipped with electromyographic sensors, performed a tool cleaning task with and without a passive upper limb exoskeleton (Hapo MS, Ergosanté Technologie, France). Six muscles of the upper limbs were analysed, i.e., anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, triceps brachii and longissimus thoracis. A subjective analysis of the usability of the equipment, the perception of effort and discomfort, was also carried out using the System Usability Scale and the Borg scale. (3) Results: The longissimus thoracis was the most used muscle during this task. We observed a significant decrease in the muscular solicitation of the anterior deltoid and latissimus dorsi when wearing the exoskeleton. Other muscles were not significantly impacted by the device. (4) Conclusions: the passive exoskeleton used in this study allowed the reduction in muscular load on the anterior deltoid and latissimus dorsi without negative effects on other muscles. Other field studies with exoskeletons are now necessary, particularly in hospitals, to increase our knowledge and improve the acceptability of this system for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Arnoux
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Anaïs Farr
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Vincent Boccara
- LIMSI CNRS, Université Paris Sud XI, CEDEX, 91403 Orsay, France
| | - Nicolas Vignais
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
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