Effects of Shoulder-Assist Exoskeletons on Muscle Activity and Balance During a Wire Pulling Task on a Simulated Scissor Lift

Details

• Personal Author:
  Zheng, Liying ; Pan, Christopher S. ; Kia, Kiana ; Chan, Allen ; Salehi, Mina ; Moorehead, Andrew ; Kim, Jeong Ho
• Description:
  Construction workers, especially electricians, frequently perform overhead tasks on elevated platforms, increasing their risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and falls. This study evaluated the effects of three passive upper extremity exoskeletons (PUEEs) on shoulder muscle activity and postural balance during a simulated wire pulling task on a motion platform replicating scissor lift dynamics. Nine male participants completed tasks at two force levels (65 N and 130 N), with and without exoskeletons. Electromyography, motion capture, and force plate data were used to assess shoulder muscle activation, joint kinematics, and postural stability. The tested PUEEs significantly reduced peak activity in key shoulder muscles-including upper trapezius (-17 % to -38 %) and much of deltoid (-1 % to -49 %)-without increasing load in the back or lower limbs. Postural stability improved with the tested PUEEs (5 %-25 %), particularly with the heavy ones, though distinct kinematic changes were observed across models. These results suggest that PUEEs may reduce biomechanical strain and improve balance during static or quasi-static overhead work, but task-specific demands and device characteristics should be carefully considered.
• Subjects:
  Ergonomics Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction workers; Musculoskeletal disorders; MSD; Exoskeletons; Electrical workers; Biomechanics; Ergonomics; Muscle function; Posture
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  West Virginia ; Oregon ; Texas ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Dallas Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD -Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DSR - Division of Safety Research
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  9 pdf pages
• Volume:
  132
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071117
• Citation:
  Appl Ergon 2026 Apr; 132:104694
• Email:
  syp4@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Ergonomics
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:aeb9eaea45d75ecdfa6a945fe94ab7b7725ea04c753818cb3ad93d31f481ea8afce200031f586afc3d51ef96aff7d6397e004ed41c51b7150e9d7d46f47717b7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/257893/cdc_257893_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.23 MB ]