MedPath

Testing the Effectiveness and Safety of a Passive Industrial Exoskeleton for the Upper Limb

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Prevention of Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System
Interventions
Device: Passive industrial exoskeleton for the upper limb
Other: The protocol will be performed without exoskeleton
Registration Number
NCT04514185
Lead Sponsor
Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health"
Brief Summary

This research will provide data on evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of using a passive exoskeleton designed to reduce the negative impact of static and dynamic loads associated with lifting and holding weights and having workspace over head on the musculoskeletal system of workers. To evaluate a passive industrial exoskeleton for upper limb support, a protocol was developed in which individual production operations will be modeled.

Detailed Description

This research will recruit 12 volunteers. During a 4-hour laboratory visit, each subject will perform two identical experimental tests: one test without an exoskeleton and another one using the exoskeleton. To avoid sequence bias, the test order will be randomized (balanced). The labor operation will be simulated. This operation's cycle will consist of lifting the load, which is 5-10 kg off the table, holding it over head and touching 4 points in order on a horizontal plate for 2 min. After this volunteer is resting for 1 min. The work will be performed for 105 minutes, then a break of 15 minutes, then 105 minutes of work. Heart rate (Polar) will be monitored. An ergospirometric device (Metamax) will be used to collect muscle activity data (Trust-M, Myoton), inertial sensors (Trust-M) will be used to evaluate the biomechanics of movements. In addition, questionnaires will be filled out for a subjective assessment of the use of exoskeleton prototypes (local discomfort scale, exoskeleton properties assessment questionnaire).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
12
Inclusion Criteria
  • healthy individuals (based on medical screening)
Exclusion Criteria
  • musculoskeletal system diseases
  • musculoskeletal injuries
  • health deviations at the time of the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
With exoskeletonPassive industrial exoskeleton for the upper limbThe experimental trial will be performed with exoskeleton.
Without exoskeletonThe protocol will be performed without exoskeletonThe experimental protocol will be performed without exoskeleton.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood pressure (Systolic and diastolic)4 hours

A Custo med blood pressure monitor will be used by all subjects throughout the study

Range of motion in large joints of the upper, lower limbs and spine1 hour

Inertial sensors will be mounted on the body of the volunteer. The amplitude of the moving in the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee joints and in the thoracolumbar spine is determined. Flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, rotation are performed.

Surface electromyography1.5 hours

Trust-M sensors with electrodes will be used to collect electromyographic data in accordance with the SENIAM recommendations. The muscles that will be monitored, the muscles of the arms, legs and back, which account for the maximum load. The locations of the sensors will be prepared by shaving, abrasion with sandpaper, and alcohol cleaning. The average amplitude of the EMG spectrum will be collected. The recording will be carried out at rest, standing before and after work, as well as outside work in the voltage position without exoskeleton and with it.

Local Comfort Rating Scale1 hours

This questionnaire is for assessing the duration of maintaining a working posture without discomfort, fixing their appearance, as well as the nature of these sensations. Points can vary from 1 to 10, where 1 is the absence of pain, 10 is unbearable pain.

Heart rate4 hours

A Polar H10 heart rate monitor (Polar Electro, Finland) will carry all items during the entire research

Metabolic cost of ergospirometric testing4 hours

A Metamax 3B instrument (Cortex, Germany) will be used to measure a metabolic cost during all labor activities.

Myotonometry1.5 hours

Myotonometry will be performed with a Myoton Pro device. Parameters of the certain muscles, which get the maximum load, will be measured at rest standing before and after work, as well as outside work in a stress position without an exoskeleton and with it.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Exoskeleton parameter evaluation form30 minutes

Questionnaire on partial and general parameters of the exoskeleton and user experience

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health

🇷🇺

Moscow, Russian Federation

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath