Spine-hip exoskeletons with smart control to ease lower back pain
Official title: SCH: Spine-Hip Exoskeletons with Learning-Based Optimal Control for Low Back Pain Alleviation
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11394296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team is testing a spine-hip soft exoskeleton with learning-based control to reduce strain and injury risk for workers who lift heavy loads.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $282,327 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB035404-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are workers who perform frequent lifting tasks and have or are at risk for lower back pain.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without lifting-related back issues may see less direct benefit, though the technology could benefit broader populations in the future.
What this research studies
This project combines robotics, biomechanics, and intelligent control to create a wearable device that supports the spine and hips. It aims to lower muscle effort and spinal loads during work tasks by using a high-fidelity spine model and adaptive control strategies. The work involves engineering the exoskeleton, modeling how the spine responds, and applying learning-based control to minimize harmful forces. If successful, the device could reduce lower back pain and prevent injuries for workers who perform lifting tasks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, workers could experience less back pain and a lower risk of injury when lifting, leading to better safety and productivity.
How similar studies have gone: Prior exoskeleton research has shown potential for reducing musculoskeletal load, with ongoing work addressing adaptability and control.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina State University Raleigh
Raleigh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Xiaoning — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Xiaoning
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.