Exoskeletons: Contribution to Occupational Health and Safety

Abstract

This review aims to characterize the current landscape of exoskeletons designed to promote medical care and occupational safety in industrial settings. Extensive exploration of scientific databases spanning industries, health, and medicine informs the classification of exoskeletons according to their distinctive attributes and specific footholds on the human physique. Within the scope of this review, a comprehensive analysis is presented, contextualizing the integration of exoskeletons based on different work activities. The reviewers extracted the most relevant articles published between 2008 and 2023 from IEEE, Proquest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and other databases. In this review, the PRISMA-ScR checklist was used, and a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.642 was applied, implying moderate agreement among the reviewers; 75 primary studies were extracted from a total of 344. The future of exoskeletons in contributing to occupational health and safety will depend on continued collaboration between researchers, designers, healthcare professionals, and industries. With the continued development of technologies and an increasing understanding of how these devices interact with the human body, exoskeletons will likely remain valuable for improving working conditions and safety in various work environments.

Exoskeleton technology in nursing practice: assessing effectiveness, usability, and impact on nurses’ quality of work life, a narrative review

“…While exoskeletons are designed to support ergonomic postures, they can also restrict natural movement. This limitation can lead to discomfort or even contribute to the development of other musculoskeletal issues [ 21 ]. Long-term reliance on exoskeletons for posture support might lead to a reduction in the natural strength and conditioning of the body’s musculoskeletal system, potentially making nurses more prone to injury when not using the device.…”

“…Moreover, there can be an adaptation period when first using exoskeletons. During this time, nurses might experience increased physical discomfort or fatigue as they adjust to the new dynamics of movement and weight distribution [ 21 ].…”