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DTSTAMP:20251016T135151Z
LOCATION:Grand Hall K
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251017T082000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251017T084000
UID:HFESAM_ASPIRE 2025_sess243_LECT141@linklings.com
SUMMARY:Evaluating Rigid and Soft Back-Support Exoskeletons for Roofing: B
 iomechanical Benefits and Trade-Offs
DESCRIPTION:Jiwon Choi, Sunwook Kim, and Ahmad Raza Usmani (Virginia Polyt
 echnic Institute and State University); Alan Barr (University of Californi
 a, Berkeley); Carisa Harris-Adamson (University of California, San Francis
 co); and Maury A. Nussbaum (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Unive
 rsity)\n\nRoofing is among the most physically demanding construction trad
 es, associated with high rates of low back injuries. Passive back-support 
 exoskeletons (BSEs) have been proposed as a potential intervention to redu
 ce physical demands, yet little is known about the effectiveness of differ
 ent BSE types (rigid vs. soft) for roofing work. Eighteen participants per
 formed lab-based simulations of roofing tasks under 12 different condition
 s. These conditions included two types of BSEs (rigid and soft) and a cont
 rol (No BSE), task locations (middle row and bottom row of a mock roof), a
 nd roof slopes (18° and 26°). Outcome measures included lumbar muscle acti
 vation, lumbar kinematics, and ratings of perceived exertion and discomfor
 t. Using the rigid BSE significantly reduced lumbar muscle activity (11–17
 %), lateral bending (~18%), and axial rotation (~15%), whereas using the s
 oft BSE significantly decreased lumbar flexion (~9%) and axial rotation (~
 16%) compared to No BSE. Both BSEs reduced perceived exertion and discomfo
 rt in the low back (~16%); however, the rigid BSE increased leg discomfort
  (~26%), and the soft BSE increased shoulder exertion (~19%). Our results 
 suggest that using BSEs can be beneficial in roofing tasks, but also highl
 ight the importance of balancing biomechanical benefits with device-specif
 ic trade-offs to ensure effective application.\n\nTrack: Occupational Ergo
 nomics\n\nSession Chairs: Sang Hyeon Kang (Iowa State University) and Moha
 mad Behjati Ashtiani (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
 \n\n
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