Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs

Ralph J.L. Macke; Arvid Q.L. Keemink; Arno H.A. Stienen

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73

Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs

Ralph J.L. Macke
, Arvid Q.L. Keemink^*
, Arno H.A. Stienen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Passive wearable lifting aids support workers by applying gravity force compensation at the arms. In this study we investigated the feasibility of a compensatory lower back moment, generated by a practically constant spring force (38.5 Nm), extending the lower back by pushing on the upper leg. This design is proposed as a light-weight solution to generate lower back moments. The method is compared to using counterweights at a different distances. We recorded EMG activity of the erector spinae longissimus (ES) muscle, the perceived workload (NASA TLX) and the preference of 12 subjects. Results showed no significant difference in ES peak EMG activity during the task, and no significant difference between perceived workload between conditions, as we expected. However, 10 out of 12 subjects indicated preferring the spring mechanism over both counterweights. The main reason of preference was the reduction of weight and inertia of the system. Therefore, the proposed constant spring force mechanism is a feasible alternative to counterweights.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Wearable Robotics
Subtitle of host publication	Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain
Editors	Jose Gonzalez-Vargas, Jaime Ibanez, Jose L. Contreras-Vidal, Herman van der Kooij, Jose Luis Pons
Publisher	Springer
Pages	445-449
Number of pages	5
Volume	16
ISBN (Print)	978-3-319-46531-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73
Publication status	Published - 2017
Event	2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob 2016 - La Granja, Spain Duration: 18 Oct 2016 → 21 Oct 2016 Conference number: 2 http://werob2016.org/

Publication series

Name	Biosystems and Biorobotics
Volume	16
ISSN (Print)	21953562
ISSN (Electronic)	21953570

Conference

Conference	2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob 2016
Abbreviated title	WeRob
Country/Territory	Spain
City	La Granja
Period	18/10/16 → 21/10/16
Internet address	http://werob2016.org/

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10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73

Cite this

Macke, R. J. L., Keemink, A. Q. L., & Stienen, A. H. A. (2017). Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs. In J. Gonzalez-Vargas, J. Ibanez, J. L. Contreras-Vidal, H. van der Kooij, & J. L. Pons (Eds.), Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain (Vol. 16, pp. 445-449). (Biosystems and Biorobotics; Vol. 16). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73

Macke, Ralph J.L. ; Keemink, Arvid Q.L. ; Stienen, Arno H.A. / Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid : Counterweight versus springs. Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain. editor / Jose Gonzalez-Vargas ; Jaime Ibanez ; Jose L. Contreras-Vidal ; Herman van der Kooij ; Jose Luis Pons. Vol. 16 Springer, 2017. pp. 445-449 (Biosystems and Biorobotics).

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title = "Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs",

abstract = "Passive wearable lifting aids support workers by applying gravity force compensation at the arms. In this study we investigated the feasibility of a compensatory lower back moment, generated by a practically constant spring force (38.5 Nm), extending the lower back by pushing on the upper leg. This design is proposed as a light-weight solution to generate lower back moments. The method is compared to using counterweights at a different distances. We recorded EMG activity of the erector spinae longissimus (ES) muscle, the perceived workload (NASA TLX) and the preference of 12 subjects. Results showed no significant difference in ES peak EMG activity during the task, and no significant difference between perceived workload between conditions, as we expected. However, 10 out of 12 subjects indicated preferring the spring mechanism over both counterweights. The main reason of preference was the reduction of weight and inertia of the system. Therefore, the proposed constant spring force mechanism is a feasible alternative to counterweights.",

author = "Macke, \{Ralph J.L.\} and Keemink, \{Arvid Q.L.\} and Stienen, \{Arno H.A.\}",

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doi = "10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6\_73",

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Macke, RJL, Keemink, AQL & Stienen, AHA 2017, Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs. in J Gonzalez-Vargas, J Ibanez, JL Contreras-Vidal, H van der Kooij & JL Pons (eds), Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain. vol. 16, Biosystems and Biorobotics, vol. 16, Springer, pp. 445-449, 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob 2016, La Granja, Spain, 18/10/16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73

Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs. / Macke, Ralph J.L.; Keemink, Arvid Q.L.; Stienen, Arno H.A.
Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain. ed. / Jose Gonzalez-Vargas; Jaime Ibanez; Jose L. Contreras-Vidal; Herman van der Kooij; Jose Luis Pons. Vol. 16 Springer, 2017. p. 445-449 (Biosystems and Biorobotics; Vol. 16).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid

T2 - 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob 2016

AU - Macke, Ralph J.L.

AU - Keemink, Arvid Q.L.

AU - Stienen, Arno H.A.

N1 - Conference code: 2

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Y1 - 2017

N2 - Passive wearable lifting aids support workers by applying gravity force compensation at the arms. In this study we investigated the feasibility of a compensatory lower back moment, generated by a practically constant spring force (38.5 Nm), extending the lower back by pushing on the upper leg. This design is proposed as a light-weight solution to generate lower back moments. The method is compared to using counterweights at a different distances. We recorded EMG activity of the erector spinae longissimus (ES) muscle, the perceived workload (NASA TLX) and the preference of 12 subjects. Results showed no significant difference in ES peak EMG activity during the task, and no significant difference between perceived workload between conditions, as we expected. However, 10 out of 12 subjects indicated preferring the spring mechanism over both counterweights. The main reason of preference was the reduction of weight and inertia of the system. Therefore, the proposed constant spring force mechanism is a feasible alternative to counterweights.

AB - Passive wearable lifting aids support workers by applying gravity force compensation at the arms. In this study we investigated the feasibility of a compensatory lower back moment, generated by a practically constant spring force (38.5 Nm), extending the lower back by pushing on the upper leg. This design is proposed as a light-weight solution to generate lower back moments. The method is compared to using counterweights at a different distances. We recorded EMG activity of the erector spinae longissimus (ES) muscle, the perceived workload (NASA TLX) and the preference of 12 subjects. Results showed no significant difference in ES peak EMG activity during the task, and no significant difference between perceived workload between conditions, as we expected. However, 10 out of 12 subjects indicated preferring the spring mechanism over both counterweights. The main reason of preference was the reduction of weight and inertia of the system. Therefore, the proposed constant spring force mechanism is a feasible alternative to counterweights.

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SN - 978-3-319-46531-9

VL - 16

T3 - Biosystems and Biorobotics

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BT - Wearable Robotics

A2 - Gonzalez-Vargas, Jose

A2 - Ibanez, Jaime

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A2 - Pons, Jose Luis

PB - Springer

Y2 - 18 October 2016 through 21 October 2016

ER -

Macke RJL, Keemink AQL, Stienen AHA. Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs. In Gonzalez-Vargas J, Ibanez J, Contreras-Vidal JL, van der Kooij H, Pons JL, editors, Wearable Robotics: Challenges and Trends: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Wearable Robotics, WeRob2016, October 18-21, 2016, Segovia, Spain. Vol. 16. Springer. 2017. p. 445-449. (Biosystems and Biorobotics). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-46532-6_73

Passive lower back moment support in a wearable lifting aid: Counterweight versus springs

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