Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles
In workplaces with prolonged or repetitive stooping, disc herniation due to excessive pressure at the lumbar L5/S1 joints has been a difficult condition to prevent and treat in the field of lower back pain. Previous research on lumbar exoskeletons mainly focused on the impact of assistive torque on...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1530034/full |
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| author | Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Chao Li Chao Li Chao Li Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jingke Song Jingke Song Jingke Song |
| author_facet | Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Chao Li Chao Li Chao Li Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jingke Song Jingke Song Jingke Song |
| author_sort | Kaicheng Qi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In workplaces with prolonged or repetitive stooping, disc herniation due to excessive pressure at the lumbar L5/S1 joints has been a difficult condition to prevent and treat in the field of lower back pain. Previous research on lumbar exoskeletons mainly focused on the impact of assistive torque on muscle activation, overlooking the fact that providing assistive torque is not the optimal approach when bending over with a low load. Instead, using traction force to reduce disc pressure is a more adaptable method to mitigate the risk of intervertebral disc herniation. In this paper, a novel lumbar exoskeleton mechanism is proposed. The exoskeleton principle is similar to a lever arranged on the torso, which provides two types of traction forces using a single compression spring with a lower support moment and higher traction performance. Subsequently, a kinetic simulation model covering passive physiologic tissues and spring stiffness was developed to determine the optimal range of traction forces for a given load, to predict the disc pressure and muscle activation at optimal traction forces. Eight subjects were invited to wear the exoskeleton for stooping and lifting tests under extreme loads, using myoelectric sensors to measure muscle activation. The results confirm that optimal traction force effectively reduces L5/S1 disc pressure without additionally increasing muscle activation. The exoskeleton in this study provides an alternative idea for the design of lumbar exoskeletons adapted to light load stooping. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0657689e490446cbfe07622378ca770 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0657689e490446cbfe07622378ca7702025-08-20T02:41:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-03-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15300341530034Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and musclesKaicheng Qi0Kaicheng Qi1Kaicheng Qi2Zhiyang Yin3Zhiyang Yin4Zhiyang Yin5Chao Li6Chao Li7Chao Li8Jianjun Zhang9Jianjun Zhang10Jianjun Zhang11Jingke Song12Jingke Song13Jingke Song14School of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaHebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Robot Sensing and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, ChinaEngineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Intelligent Rehabilitation Devices and Testing Technology, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaHebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Robot Sensing and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, ChinaEngineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Intelligent Rehabilitation Devices and Testing Technology, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaHebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Robot Sensing and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, ChinaEngineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Intelligent Rehabilitation Devices and Testing Technology, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaHebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Robot Sensing and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, ChinaEngineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Intelligent Rehabilitation Devices and Testing Technology, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, ChinaHebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Robot Sensing and Human-Machine Integration, Tianjin, ChinaEngineering Research Center of the Ministry of Education for Intelligent Rehabilitation Devices and Testing Technology, Tianjin, ChinaIn workplaces with prolonged or repetitive stooping, disc herniation due to excessive pressure at the lumbar L5/S1 joints has been a difficult condition to prevent and treat in the field of lower back pain. Previous research on lumbar exoskeletons mainly focused on the impact of assistive torque on muscle activation, overlooking the fact that providing assistive torque is not the optimal approach when bending over with a low load. Instead, using traction force to reduce disc pressure is a more adaptable method to mitigate the risk of intervertebral disc herniation. In this paper, a novel lumbar exoskeleton mechanism is proposed. The exoskeleton principle is similar to a lever arranged on the torso, which provides two types of traction forces using a single compression spring with a lower support moment and higher traction performance. Subsequently, a kinetic simulation model covering passive physiologic tissues and spring stiffness was developed to determine the optimal range of traction forces for a given load, to predict the disc pressure and muscle activation at optimal traction forces. Eight subjects were invited to wear the exoskeleton for stooping and lifting tests under extreme loads, using myoelectric sensors to measure muscle activation. The results confirm that optimal traction force effectively reduces L5/S1 disc pressure without additionally increasing muscle activation. The exoskeleton in this study provides an alternative idea for the design of lumbar exoskeletons adapted to light load stooping.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1530034/fulllumbar exoskeletontraction forcesintervertebral disc pressurestiffness optimizationelectromyography |
| spellingShingle | Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Kaicheng Qi Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Zhiyang Yin Chao Li Chao Li Chao Li Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jianjun Zhang Jingke Song Jingke Song Jingke Song Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology lumbar exoskeleton traction forces intervertebral disc pressure stiffness optimization electromyography |
| title | Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| title_full | Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| title_short | Effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| title_sort | effects of a lumbar exoskeleton that provides two traction forces on spinal loading and muscles |
| topic | lumbar exoskeleton traction forces intervertebral disc pressure stiffness optimization electromyography |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1530034/full |
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