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Evaluation of the subjective and objective benefits of occupational soft and rigid back support exoskeletons in simulated automotive assembly tasks.

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Title: Evaluation of the subjective and objective benefits of occupational soft and rigid back support exoskeletons in simulated automotive assembly tasks.
Authors: Kazemi Z; Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA., Srinivasan D; Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA. Electronic address: sriniv5@clemson.edu.
Source: Applied ergonomics [Appl Ergon] 2026 Oct; Vol. 136, pp. 104795. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 25.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0261412 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1872-9126 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00036870 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Appl Ergon Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: Oxford : Butterworth-Heinemann
Original Publication: London.
MeSH Terms: Automobiles* , Exoskeleton Device*, Torso/physiology ; Physical Exertion/physiology ; Humans ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Task Performance and Analysis ; Equipment Design ; Electromyography ; Computer Simulation ; Ergonomics
Abstract: Despite extensive research demonstrating the benefits of back-support exoskeletons (BSEs), most objective evidence on the effectiveness of BSEs is based on short-term outcomes from static/non-functional tasks, which may not fully represent the complexities and dynamics inherent in real-world scenarios. To address this gap, the current study examined the effects of BSEs on both objective and subjective physical demands in simulated automotive assembly performed on a semi-assembled 2018 BMW X5 vehicle, under three conditions: control (no-exoskeleton), and using two different passive BSEs (soft vs. rigid), in a convenience sample of 18 healthy adults. Across the job that included a wide variety of tasks, using the soft BSE significantly reduced peak trunk flexion, and both BSEs restricted axial rotation, which was compensated by increased trunk lateral bending (with the rigid BSE having a more pronounced effect). Using both BSEs also led to decreased median trunk extensor muscle activity. However, at the task-specific level, the soft device showed higher efficacy. The main effects of both BSEs on perceived exertion were significant, with a small increase in the exoskeleton condition compared to control, and it was also associated with a significant decrease in perceived 'comfort' and 'performance' over time. These findings highlight that objective biomechanical effects and subjective responses may reflect different, complementary aspects of BSE use during complex industrial task simulations and over longer exposure durations.
(Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Automotive assembly; Back-support exoskeletons; Realistic simulation
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260426 Date Completed: 20260715 Latest Revision: 20260715
Update Code: 20260716
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104795
PMID: 42035625
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Evaluation of the subjective and objective benefits of occupational soft and rigid back support exoskeletons in simulated automotive assembly tasks.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Kazemi+Z%22">Kazemi Z</searchLink>; Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Srinivasan+D%22">Srinivasan D</searchLink>; Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA. Electronic address: sriniv5@clemson.edu.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%220261412%22">Applied ergonomics</searchLink> [Appl Ergon] 2026 Oct; Vol. 136, pp. 104795. <i>Date of Electronic Publication: </i>2026 Apr 25.
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  Data: <i>Publication</i>: Oxford : Butterworth-Heinemann<br /><i>Original Publication</i>: London.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Automobiles%22">Automobiles*</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Exoskeleton+Device%22">Exoskeleton Device*</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Torso%22">Torso</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Torso+physiology%22">physiology</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Physical+Exertion%22">Physical Exertion</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Physical+Exertion+physiology%22">physiology</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Humans%22">Humans</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Adult%22">Adult</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Male%22">Male</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Female%22">Female</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Young+Adult%22">Young Adult</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Biomechanical+Phenomena%22">Biomechanical Phenomena</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Task+Performance+and+Analysis%22">Task Performance and Analysis</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Equipment+Design%22">Equipment Design</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Electromyography%22">Electromyography</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Computer+Simulation%22">Computer Simulation</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Ergonomics%22">Ergonomics</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Despite extensive research demonstrating the benefits of back-support exoskeletons (BSEs), most objective evidence on the effectiveness of BSEs is based on short-term outcomes from static/non-functional tasks, which may not fully represent the complexities and dynamics inherent in real-world scenarios. To address this gap, the current study examined the effects of BSEs on both objective and subjective physical demands in simulated automotive assembly performed on a semi-assembled 2018 BMW X5 vehicle, under three conditions: control (no-exoskeleton), and using two different passive BSEs (soft vs. rigid), in a convenience sample of 18 healthy adults. Across the job that included a wide variety of tasks, using the soft BSE significantly reduced peak trunk flexion, and both BSEs restricted axial rotation, which was compensated by increased trunk lateral bending (with the rigid BSE having a more pronounced effect). Using both BSEs also led to decreased median trunk extensor muscle activity. However, at the task-specific level, the soft device showed higher efficacy. The main effects of both BSEs on perceived exertion were significant, with a small increase in the exoskeleton condition compared to control, and it was also associated with a significant decrease in perceived 'comfort' and 'performance' over time. These findings highlight that objective biomechanical effects and subjective responses may reflect different, complementary aspects of BSE use during complex industrial task simulations and over longer exposure durations.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Competing Interests
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Automotive assembly; Back-support exoskeletons; Realistic simulation
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  Data: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104795
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        Value: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104795
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Physical Exertion physiology
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      – SubjectFull: Automobiles
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      – SubjectFull: Exoskeleton Device
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Evaluation of the subjective and objective benefits of occupational soft and rigid back support exoskeletons in simulated automotive assembly tasks.
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              Text: 2026 Oct
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