The effect of a passive shoulder exoskeleton on a sensorimotor task when performed above and at shoulder height

Abstract

Exoskeletons have emerged as an opportunity for reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) for industry workers. However, it is not clear how these exoskeletons will affect task or work-related performance. In this study, the effect of task height and the presence of a shoulder-support exoskeleton on sensorimotor performance was examined. Participants (n = 24) performed a sensorimotor multidirectional tapping task using a grip tool under two task heights (at shoulder, 40° above shoulder) and exoskeleton presence (present, absent). Results support that accuracy, error rate, and precision were not affected by task height and exoskeleton presence, while movement time (3.7% average movement time increase at shoulder height and 9.7% average movement time increase above shoulder height with exoskeleton presence) and throughput (3.3% average throughput decrease at shoulder height and 7.3% average throughput decrease at above shoulder height with exoskeleton presence) were affected when the exoskeleton was present. Results also support that the perceived discomfort, fatigue, and workload were influenced by task height and exoskeleton presence. This study expands understanding of the effect of a passive exoskeleton during a sensorimotor assessment task, which provides added context for industry decision-making on using exoskeletons as a method to mitigate WMSDs and motivates future design recommendations for exoskeletons.