Effects of Passive Upper-Extremity Exoskeleton Use on Motor Performance in a Precision Task

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kelson DM ; Kim S ; Nussbaum MA ; Srinivasan D
• Description:
  Upper-extremity exoskeletons (UEXO) are promising interventions for reducing the physical demands of work performed with arms elevated (e.g., overhead work). In this study, we investigated the effects of passive UEXO use on motor performance and physical demands in a repetitive precision overhead task. Eleven participants completed repetitive tapping of targets in both vertically-aligned (targets above/below shoulder level) and horizontally-aligned (targets at shoulder level) configurations, using two UEXOs (Levitate AirframeTM and Eksobionics EksoVestTM) and in a no-device (control) condition. Median levels of muscle activity in the upper trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles decreased using both UEXOs compared to the control. However, the two UEXOs caused distinct effects on end-point precision. End-point precision was similar between devices in the horizontal configuration, but using the EksoVest significantly decreased precision in the vertically-aligned task. These results indicate that task perform [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Dust Engineering Mining Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Exoskeletons Muscle Function Muscles Musculoskeletal System Repetitive Work Task Performance Upper Extremities
• ISSN:
  1071-1813
• Publisher:
  Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  63
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066080
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, October 28 - November 1, 2019, Seattle, Washington. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2019 Nov; 63(1):1084-1085
• Contact Point Address:
  Divya Srinivasan, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
• Email:
  sdivya1@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, October 28 - November 1, 2019, Seattle, Washington
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ee5ce0154b1006acecf050aeee957ef31092e5419319230e8bf803936a032a2e0738f6a7037dfb8bbf42f5c40d33f9ed5968c1cf6322ba550d435f948e6ac344
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209149/cdc_209149_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.86 MB ]