Summary Reader Response (Draft #4)

In the article ”Where’s My Supersuit?”, Zelik (2019) highlights the attributes and benefits of a spring-powered exosuit, which aims to prevent low back pain in the majority of adults. He also mentions that most adults have or will deal with lower back pain someday, and the suit will help to lessen stress on those muscles. The exosuit created by Zelik consists of common clothing material with an “assistive fabric elastic band”, coupled with an on-off switch that is activated when needed. He indicates that the absence of batteries and motors allows users to have the ability to move normally when the suit is turned off, while other exoskeletons are bulky, uncomfortable and interfere with movement. Zelik also mentions that the sleek design of the suit would hardly be noticeable when worn under everyday clothes. As I see it, an effective exosuit should help to ease tension on the lower back muscles, be comfortable and have the ability to be switched off.

First of all, one essential aspect of any exoskeleton is its ability to ease tension on the muscles. The laboratory tests revealed that the exosuit is capable of "reducing erector spinae muscle activity by an average of 23-43% during leaning tasks, and 14-16% during lifting tasks" (Lamers et al., 2018, p. 1674). The tests concluded that the suit "could significantly reduce the rate of lumbar muscle fatigue during leaning" (Lamers, Scherpereel, Soltys, Yang, & Zelik, 2019). Although the suit does not completely remove the load on the lower back muscles, it still takes a considerable amount of stress off them. In this way, the exosuit helps to lessen fatigue on the lower back muscles and prevents injury.

Another important aspect of the exosuit is its modernized design. Exoskeletons are usually bulky and uncomfortable, which means that users are unable to wear them for long durations. The exosuit "doesn’t have any motors or batteries and weighs less than three pounds" (Zelik, 2019). In addition, Zelik mentioned that the suit does not have any protruding parts that will hinder the user's movements. This means that the suit will be adequately low-profile and comfortable to wear under everyday clothing. With discomfort and bulkiness out of the picture, users will be able to equip the suit for longer periods.

Furthermore, the exosuit by Zelik incorporates a switch that allows users to turn the suit on or off with a tapping gesture on the straps. When turned off, the suit disengages its support and the user will be able to move freely and as per normal. In a study, while users walked with the suit turned on, they "walked somewhat slower with shortened steps while abdominal muscle activity slightly increased" (Baltrusch et al., 2019, p. 903). The study also indicated that "during walking metabolic costs increased, stressing the need for a device that allows disengagement of support" (Baltrusch et al., 2019, p. 903). This aspect of the suit will help to prevent unnecessary increments in muscle activity when users are not lifting or leaning. Thus, the ability for the suit to be turned on and off is particularly useful for when users are switching between tasks or taking breaks.

In my opinion, one setback the exosuit possesses is that users need to have proper form when using it, as not everyone is informed on the importance of good posture when lifting and leaning. If users do not practice good form when lifting objects, it will cause "a greater load to be placed through the bones, ligaments and discs in your spine which may lead to injury" (Take Control, n.d.). Employing efficient body mechanics is crucial to prevent injuries in the long term. In my view, this problem can be solved by providing users with training that teaches them proper form when carrying out strenuous tasks.

To conclude, the aspects of the exosuit by Zelik as mentioned above, will help it to reduce user's tension on the lower back and prevent injuries, while being comfortable at the same time. However, users will need to be instructed on proper form before utilizing the suit for increased effectiveness and efficiency.


(683 words)


References


Baltrusch, S.J., van Dieën, J. H., Bruijn, S. M., Koopman, A. S., van Bennekom C. A. M., & Houdijk, H. (2019). The effect of a passive trunk exoskeleton on metabolic costs during lifting and walking, Ergonomics, 62(7), 903-916. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2019.1602288


Lamers, E.P., Scherpereel, K.L., Soltys, J.C., Yang, A.J., & Zelik, K.E. (2019). Effect of Low-Profile, Spring-Powered Exosuit on Back Muscle Fatigue during Leaning. https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/1409/2016/03/14121714/ISB_2019_EPL_01302019.pdf


Lamers, E.P., Yang, A.J., & Zelik, K.E. (2018). Feasibility of a Biomechanically-Assistive Garment to Reduce Low Back Loading During Leaning and Lifting. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 65(8), 1674-1680. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2017.2761455


Take Control. (n.d.). Why is correct lifting technique important?. https://www.takecontrol.com.au/general/why-is-correct-lifting-technique-important/#:~:text=When%20you%20lift%20an%20object,which%20may%20lead%20to%20injury.


Zelik, K. (2019, April 21). “Where’s My Supersuit”. Conversation.com https://theconversation.com/its-2019-wheres-my-supersuit-115679

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