Chairless Chair

Arbeitsphysiologisch-biomechanische Analyse des Exoskeletts für die unteren Extremitäten "Chairless Chair"

01/05/2017 to 31/12/2017

Standing work is associated with increased risks of venous and musculoskeletal disorders; particularly low back pain is commonly reported in prolonged standing work. In manufacturing work, work-stations often do not allow standing aids due to insufficient functional and spatial conditions. In 2014, the car manufacturer Audi introduced the lower leg exoskeleton developed by Noonee to their employees working in the factories. This exoskeleton, the ‘Chairless Chair’, has the advantage that standing work can be performed while technically sitting on this device. The exoskeleton offers the potential for reduced awkward body postures, but it is unclear which biomechanical loads are influenced and how. This study will evaluate the ‘Chairless Chair’ in a laboratory setting, by testing its effectiveness in terms of biomechanical parameters, including postural balance, back and neck curvature, and muscular activity of selective muscles. For this purpose, different work settings will be compared, consisting of a mixture of different working heights and different positions (wearing or not wearing the exoskeleton) while performing simulated assembly tasks. The study population will consist of 42 healthy men in the age of 18-40 years old, who will perform 7 different experimental conditions.