Biomechanical Effectiveness and Wearability of a Passive Shoulder Exoskeleton in an Automotive Assembly

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Background and Objectives: Exoskeletons may be useful in preventing musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical and subjective effects of a passive shoulder exoskeleton during overhead assembly work in a real-world automotive manufacturing environment. Materials and Methods: Sixteen workers performing overhead assembly tasks participated in this study. Muscle activity, joint angles, and joint reaction forces were compared between the No Exo and Exo conditions during overhead work. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (EMG), upper-body kinematics were captured using inertial measurement units (IMUs), and shoulder joint torques and reaction forces were estimated using the AnyBody musculoskeletal modeling system. Additionally, user satisfaction was assessed through a questionnaire. Results: Comparison of biomechanical outcomes between the No Exo and Exo conditions showed that the Exo condition significantly reduced anterior and lateral deltoid activities by approximately 15.2% and 11.1%, respectively, and reduced glenohumeral joint reaction force by 115.24 N (all p < 0.05). Participants also reported lower physical workload (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study results suggest that wearing an exoskeleton during overhead work may reduce shoulder muscle loading and improve biomechanical indicators associated with shoulder loading.