New ETH study confirms benefits of Auxivo's exoskeletons

Schwerzenbach ZH/Zurich - A recent study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) confirms that the LiftSuit exoskeleton from Auxivo relieves employees of a lot of load when leaning forward and lifting. At the same time, it does not negatively change the way one lifts.

Auxivo's pull-on LiftSuit reduces back muscle activity during forward leaning and lifting without negatively changing the way you lift. ETH has now confirmed this. In a study, it had thoroughly evaluated Auxivo's textile passive exoskeleton called LiftSuit. The results have just been published in the March issue of the Journal of Biomechanics.

In the 30 healthy subjects, wearing the exoskeleton "significantly" reduced muscle activity in the major back and hip muscles: in forward bending by up to 25.59 percent and in lifting by up to 20.52 percent. At the same time, no changes in knee and hip range of motion were observed.

In summary, the study says the LiftSuit exoskeleton unloaded back and hip muscles during typical weight-bearing occupational tasks while maintaining biomechanical parameters. "This suggests that passive, lifting-support exoskeletons can be safely used to unload workers during lifting and forward-bending tasks."

A pilot trial is currently taking place at the parcel service DPD Switzerland. It is expected to last until October 2023. Auxivo will present its LiftSuit2 and CarrySuit at the Hannover Messe. The international industrial trade fair takes place from April 17 to 21.

Auxivo was founded in 2019 and is a spin-off of the Rehabilitation Engineering Lab at ETH. In the same year, Swissport received the International Air Transport Association's Innovation Award for its collaboration with Auxivo researchers on the LiftSuit. There, the exoskeleton supported workers in baggage sorting. 

Source: New ETH study confirms advantages of Auxivo's exoskeletons - punkt4