Comparing three trunk-assist exoskeletons and no assistance during lifting
Official title: Choosing a Trunk Assistance Exoskeleton: Issues of Cumulative Lumbar Loading, Muscle Fatigue, and Discomfort During Repetitive Lifting Tasks
Run by Topmed · NCT07084974 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test three trunk-assist exoskeletons and no assistance in healthy French-speaking adults to see if they reduce back muscle fatigue and cumulative lumbar load during repeated lifting.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | Men only |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Topmed Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Québec, Quebec) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 1, 2025 |
| Study ends | May 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 25, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07084974 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are healthy, French-speaking adults without recent back pain or trunk musculoskeletal conditions who can perform the required lifting rhythm and have BMI ≤35 kg/m².
✕Probably not a fit
People with recent or chronic back pain, scoliosis, recent trunk surgery or musculoskeletal injury, neurological damage, BMI over 35, or who cannot safely perform the lifting task are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Healthy adult volunteers who can communicate in French will be fitted with three different trunk-assist exoskeletons and will also perform a lifting session without assistance. After an initial adjustment and practice session, participants will perform a standardized lifting task consisting of four 20-minute blocks in separate sessions for each device and a no-assist session. Researchers will measure cumulative lumbar load, trunk extensor muscular fatigue, and participant comfort during the tasks. Each participant will serve as their own comparison to evaluate differences between devices and no assistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, these exoskeletons could lower back muscle fatigue and spinal load during lifting, potentially reducing work-related low back injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lab studies of trunk and back-support exoskeletons have reported reductions in lumbar load and muscle activity in some tasks, though results depend on device design and work conditions.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Being able to communicate in french Exclusion Criteria: * Back pain in the last year * Back pain for more than a week in the years prior * Musculoskeletal injury in the last year * Trunk musculoskeletal system surgery in the last year * Scoliosis diagnostic * Systemic illness, degenerative disease or syndrome related to the trunk musculoskeletal or nervous system * Body mass index over 35 kg/m\^2 * History of neurological damage * Any contraindication to the practice of physical activity * Incapacity to perform the lifting task at the specified rythm * Medication with a negative impact on balance
Where it's running
-
Topmed
Québec, Quebec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Edith Martin, Ph.D
- Email: emartin@topmed.ca
- Phone: 4187801301
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Intensive Visual Simulation before exoskeleton gait training in people with hemisensory brain injury
This study tests whether a brief IVS session before exoskeleton-assisted walking helps people with sensory- impaired stroke-related hemiparesis to walk independently.
-
Powered lower-limb exoskeleton training for adults with prolonged mechanical ventilation
We are testing whether using a powered leg exoskeleton during training can improve leg strength, breathing measures, and recovery time for people who have been on a ventilator for a long period.
-
Using intelligent powered exoskeletons for rehabilitation after spinal surgery
This study is testing whether a smart powered exoskeleton can help people recover better from lower limb problems after spinal surgery.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.