NCT07084974

Evaluation of Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton

Choosing a Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton: Issues of Cumulative Lumbar Loading, Muscle Fatigue, and Discomfort During Repetitive Lifting Tasks

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: TOPMED · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the effect of three different designs of trunk assistance exoskeletons on cumulative lumbar load, trunk extensors' muscular fatigue and comfort in healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer is: will exoskeletons reduce muscle fatigue and cumulative lumbar load. Participants will : * get each exoskeletons adjusted and then practice the lifting task and measurement sequence in a first session * perform a lifting task for 4 blocks of 20 minutes on different sessions for each exoskeleton, another session is performed without assistance.

Conditions

• Exoskeleton Device

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Adjustment and practice session	During the adjustment and practice session, participants will perform the lifting task with each exoskeleton after they are properly fitted. They will also perform the measurement sequence as to limit learning effects during lifting task sessions. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.
DEVICE	No trunk assistance	This lifting task session is performed without any trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.
DEVICE	Uplift Lite exoskeleton	This lifting task session is performed with the Mawashi Uplift Lite trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants will perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.
DEVICE	Biolift exoskeleton	This lifting task session is performed with the Biolift trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.
DEVICE	Laevo Flex exoskeleton	This lifting task session is performed with the Leavo Flex trunk assistance exoskeleton. Participants perform 3 blocks of 20 minutes of the lifting task. The lifting task is a box transfer tasks from the ground to a table adjusted at the participant's hip height. The task rhythm is 7 cycles per minute. The box weight is equivalent to 10% of their maximal lifting strength. Total session duration is about 3 hours.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-04
• Primary completion: 2025-11-01
• Completion: 2026-05-01
• First posted: 2025-07-25
• Last updated: 2025-07-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada