Effects of a back-assist exosuit in lab-based approximations of construction tasks performed by novices and experienced construction workers
研究测试了HeroWear Apex背部外骨骼对35名建筑工人（15名有经验、20名新手）在模拟建筑任务中的效果，发现它能减少竖脊肌电活动、改变身体姿态，并在跪姿任务中提供客观帮助。
Passive back-assist exosuits may be beneficial for construction workers, but few evaluations have been conducted with actual workers and construction-relevant tasks. This paper presents a laboratory study of the HeroWear Apex exosuit with 35 participants: 15 with significant construction experience and 20 without it. Participants completed several approximations of brief construction tasks (lifting, carrying, raising boards) and three 3-min tasks (hunched standing, kneeling, hunched walking with a nail gun) with and without the exosuit. During brief tasks, erector spinae electromyograms were reduced in all tasks (Cohen's d up to -0.58), kinematics suggested load shifting from the back to the legs, and the exosuit was perceived as helpful. During 3-min tasks, the exosuit was perceived as helpful in all tasks, but only reduced erector spinae electromyograms during kneeling. Thus, the exosuit may benefit workers during several construction-related tasks, though objective benefits could not be shown in 3-min standing or walking.