The Effect of a Passive Shoulder Exoskeleton and Muscle Fatigue on Occupational Work Performance

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Fatigue; Physical Stress; Muscle Strain
• Interventions: Device: No exoskeleton support; Behavioral: Fatigue protocol; Device: Passive shoulder exoskeleton; Behavioral: No peripheral fatiguing protocol

• Registration Number: NCT05389384
• Lead Sponsor: Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Brief Summary

In this investigation, participants perform simulated occupational work during which the task performance will be logged. This research investigates the effect of peripheral fatigue and a passive shoulder exoskeleton on the task performance.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-04-26
• Study Start: 2021-08-20
• Status Verified: 2022-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-05-19
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-25
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-25
• Primary Completion: 2022-07-31
• Study Completion: 2023-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 35

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy (based on ParQ questionnaire)
• right handed

Exclusion Criteria

• current musculoskeletal disorder
• history of recurrent musculoskeletal discorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
No fatigue - No support	No peripheral fatiguing protocol	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed without exoskeleton support
No fatigue - No support	No exoskeleton support	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed without exoskeleton support
No fatigue - Exoskeleton support	No peripheral fatiguing protocol	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed with exoskeleton support
Peripheral fatigue - No support	Fatigue protocol	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed without exoskeleton support
Peripheral fatigue - Exoskeleton support	Passive shoulder exoskeleton	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed with exoskeleton support
Peripheral fatigue - No support	No exoskeleton support	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed without exoskeleton support
No fatigue - Exoskeleton support	Passive shoulder exoskeleton	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed with exoskeleton support
Peripheral fatigue - Exoskeleton support	Fatigue protocol	peripheral fatigue induced and overhead work performed with exoskeleton support

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Work accuracy	During 2 minutes overhead work	The number of errors is tracked
Work pace	During 2 minutes overhead work	Time to completion is tracked

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Surface electromyography	During 2 minutes overhead work	Cometa (Mini Wave) sensors with Ambu (BlueSensor) electrodes will be used to collect electromyographic data conform the SENIAM guidelines. The muscles that will be monitored are: deltoideus anterior, deltoideus medialis, deltoideus posterior, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, brachioradialis, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, trapezius descendens, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, flexor carpi radialis, serratus anterior on the right side of the body. The locations of the sensors will be prepared by shaving, abrasion with sandpaper and cleaning with alcohol. To allow relative expression of muscle activity, maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of each muscle that is being monitored will be collected. The average of the maximal activity out of the best two out of three contractions will serve as the MVC value. The outcomes will be the activities of the muscles (as a percentage of the MVC) monitored during the tests.
Workload	After 2 minutes of overhead work	NASA TLX questionnaire for workload
Kinematic smoothness of movement	During 2 minutes overhead work	Inetrial Measurement Units will be used to track how smoothly the overhead work is completed. Smoothness is determined by the Spectral Arc method.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Lichamelijk Opvoeding en Kinesitherapie; 🇧🇪 Brussel, Belgium